Drug mules killed near border area
CHIANG RAI: Five drug couriers were killed in a clash with soldiers from the Pha Muang Force in the Doi Nang Non mountain range in Mae Sai district, near the border with Myanmar on Saturday. One million methamphetamine pills were seized, local police said yesterday.
Soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Task Force were waiting near Pha Mi village in tambon Wiang Pha Kham, about 700 metres from the border, when they spotted seven armed men carrying backpacks walking along a jungle trail.
When the soldiers stopped them for a routine search, the men opened fire, leading to a gun battle that lasted about 15 minutes.
Five sacks, each containing about 200,000 methamphetamine pills, were found near the bodies. A cache of assorted ammunition was also recovered.
There are two natural border-crossings near the clash site, close to Sampi village in Myammar’s Tachilek province, which is known as a drug production base of Muser tribesmen led by Lt Gen Yi Se.
Drugs have been smuggled through the crossings into Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai and Mae Fa Luang, Mae Chan and Mae Sai districts in Chiang Rai, leading to frequent clashes with Thai authorities.
Separately, Phrae police yesterday spoke to the media about the arrest of two suspected drug traffickers.
Deputy national police chief Chalermkiat Sriworakhan yesterday flew from Bangkok to Phrae to attend the press conference.
Police said the two couriers, who were later identified as Sompong Takkrathanachuchai, 24, and Surachai Songtisaichok, 24, were caught with 5 million speed pills in their pick up truck after a brief car chase in Song district on Saturday.
A combined team of soldiers, police and local officers manning a checkpoint in tambon Huay Mai spotted a suspicious pick-up truck and signalled the driver to stop at around 9.30am on Saturday, they said yesterday.
However, the driver sped off, prompting officers to chase and arrest them.
Upon searching the truck, police found 35 black plastic bags containing a total of 5 million speed pills.