Drug traffickers killed in Chiang Mai shootout, meth haul seized
Four members of a drug trafficking ring were killed in a shootout in a Chiang Mai forest, resulting in the seizure of over 100 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and one million methamphetamine pills.
The incident occurred on Saturday, February 8, near Ban Pang Nok, Moo 1, Malika subdistrict, Mae Ai district, when personnel from the 3206th Ranger Company, under the Third Army Region’s Operations Centre, encountered the traffickers during a checkpoint operation.
Initial reports indicate that no officials were injured during the altercation. However, due to the darkness, the site was not immediately investigated for safety reasons.
The following morning, February 9, patrol teams discovered 13 modified backpacks containing a total of 195kgs of crystal methamphetamine, along with a shotgun, a homemade firearm, a mobile phone, and a radio.
Three dead traffickers were found at the scene. Subsequently, all evidence was handed over to the Mae Ai district police for further investigation.
Later the same day, at 2.40pm, Colonel Meechai Nilsat and relevant agencies inspected the scene of the fatal exchange and discovered over one million methamphetamine pills. Earlier that day, at 9am, the 3201st Ranger Company had engaged another group of traffickers at a natural passage near Ban Na Mae Oon, Moo 12, Mae Ai district.
This skirmish resulted in an injury to Sergeant Jakrin Moolkum, who sustained injuries from shrapnel to the left side of his chest. He was promptly taken to the hospital and is now in stable condition.
At the second scene, officials found one trafficker deceased and recovered six modified backpacks containing a total of 1,040,000 methamphetamine pills, a homemade rifle, and a hand grenade. All confiscated items were subsequently transferred to the Mae Ai district police for legal proceedings, reported KhaoSod.
In a related story, a man involved in drug trafficking was apprehended after his car crashed into an electricity pole during an attempted escape from police. Police seized over 3.2 million methamphetamine pills. The incident occurred on February 4 at Mueang district, Mukdahan province.
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