Northern Thailand police seize 62 million Yaba pills in 5 months
In a recent drug suppression drive conducted in the Mae Chan district of Chiang Rai, police in northern Thailand seized six million Yaba pills. This latest seizure is part of a wider crackdown on drug trafficking in the region, which has seen law enforcement officials seize a staggering 62 million Yaba pills, also known as methamphetamine, over the past five months.
According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Piya Tawichai, the commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5, the operation was launched after informants tipped off police that a large quantity of meth pills would be transported in two pickups, one with Chiang Mai and the other with Chiang Rai registration plates, from Mae Fa Luang to Mae Chan district. Police subsequently intercepted the two vehicles and began tailing them, with one vehicle heading to Chiang Saen district and the other towards Mae Chan district, reported Bangkok Post.
During the chase, the Chiang Mai-registered pickup stopped near a rubber plantation, and two individuals disembarked and fled into the forest, abandoning the vehicle in the process. Upon inspection of the vehicle, authorities discovered 30 bags containing six million Yaba pills. The other pickup was later found abandoned on the roadside, with nobody in it. It was brought to the Mae Chan police station for examination.
This latest seizure marks the culmination of a concerted effort by Provincial Police Region 5 to tackle drug trafficking in the area. Over the past five months, police have seized 1,472 kilogrammes of crystal meth or ice, 421kg of ketamine, and 1.42kg of heroin in 13,106 drug cases. Additionally, authorities have frozen approximately 377 million baht worth of drug-related assets for examination.
Drug trafficking remains a significant problem in Thailand, with authorities regularly seizing large quantities of drugs and arresting those involved in the trade. However, the persistence of this issue highlights the need for continued efforts to combat drug trafficking and reduce its harmful impact on individuals and communities.
Thailand has long been plagued by the problem of methamphetamine, crystal meth or Yaba. It is a highly addictive synthetic stimulant that is relatively cheap to produce and easy to transport, making it a popular choice for drug traffickers.
Despite ongoing efforts by the Thai government to combat the problem, meth use remains a significant issue in the country. According to a 2019 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, meth use in Thailand is among the highest in the world, with an estimated 2.7% of the population aged 15-64 using the drug.
