Chiang Rai

Thai troops kill four drug couriers and seize large haul of ketamine

Published

1 month ago

May 12, 2019

Thai troops kill four drug couriers and seize large haul of ketamine | The Thaiger

Thai troops have shot and killed four alleged drug couriers and seized more than 300 kilograms of ketamine. The incident happened last night in a corn plantation near a bordering river in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.

Acting on a tip-off that the drugs were to be smuggled from Myanmar for delivery to a Thai customer in Ban Pa Daeng in Tambon Koh Chang, Mae Sai district, troops from the Pa Muang Task Force were sent to the area.

Thai PBS reports that at around 9pm, about 30 people carrying bags on their backs were spotted wading across the shallow Ruak River on the border with Myanmar. Once on Thai soil, the troops emerged from their hideout and ordered the intruders to stop, only to be fired upon by the armed guards protecting the drug caravan.

The troops returned fire in a firefight which lasted about 10 minutes. For safety, the troops then waited until dawn before searching the area. They found four dead bodies and seventeen bags containing about 340 kilograms of ketamine.

SOURCE: Thai PBS

Chiang Rai

2.2 million meth pills seized in Chiang Rai cross-border interception

Published

3 days ago

June 14, 2019

The Thaiger & The Nation

2.2 million meth pills seized in Chiang Rai cross-border interception | The Thaiger

In the game of ‘catch me if you can’ between drug smugglers and Thai police, this was another successful interception of a large drug cache making its way into Thailand.

Authorities intercepted 2.2 million methamphetamine pills and 11 kilograms of crystal meth (ice) in the hills north of Chiang Rai.

The Nation reports that Narcotics Suppression Bureau report that the drugs were supplied by the South Wa hill-tribal group based near Ban Pha Khao area in Myanmar, opposite the border to Chiang Rai’s Mae Fa Luang district.

The illicit drugs were seized from a car that tried to break through a checkpoint in Tambon Mae Chaen in Mae Chan district at 11.23pm on June 11. Police chased the vehicle and cut it off near Wat Phra That Saeng Kham. Two suspects from the car fled into the darkness leaving behind the large haul of drugs in 15 sacks.

The following morning police searched a house in Tambon Pateung, where they arrested a male suspect identified as Jasor Nunuko.

The recent crackdown has also led to drug gangs shifting their approach from previously sending a large batch of narcotics to multiple distributors – at more than 10 million meth pills at a time – to now sending narcotics in smaller amounts in the hope of better avoiding detection.

SOURCE: The Nation

Chiang Rai

Drug smugglers get away but police seize their pickup stuffed with meth pills and ‘ice’

Published

5 days ago

June 12, 2019

The Thaiger & The Nation

Drug smugglers get away but police seize their pickup stuffed with meth pills and ‘ice’ | The Thaiger

PHOTOS: The Nation

Drug smugglers have abandoned their pickup and a huge cache of drugs following a high-speed chase through the hills of Chiang Rai early yesterday morning.

Once soldiers caught up with the pickup the driver and passengers had fled but left 2.2 million methamphetamine pills and 11 kilos of crystal methamphetamine (ice).

According to The Nation, the Chiang Rai-based Second Cavalry set up a checkpoint on the Ban Samakkhi Mai-Huay San Kao road in Mae Fah Lung district, and spotted a pickup parking on the roadside approaching the checkpoint.

Troops alerted narcotics suppression police, but before they could check the pickup it had sped off towards the Mae Chan district.

A team of police and troops gave chase on the Fang-Mae Chan road until they finally caught up with pickup, abandoned on a mountain road near Phrathat Saengkham Temple in Tambon Mae Chan, Mae Chan district, at 12.30am yesterday morning. The driver and passenger had vanished.

A search of the vehicle unearthed the cache of methamphetamine pills packed into 15 bags.

Drug smugglers get away but police seize their pickup stuffed with meth pills and 'ice' | News by The Thaiger

SOURCE: The Nation

Chiang Mai

Bangkok Airways Samui Half Marathon, second in the Thailand series

Published

2 weeks ago

June 6, 2019

The Thaiger

The “Bangkok Airways Samui Half Marathon”was organised to promote Koh Samui tourism and to ensure that participants recognise the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Last Sunday’s event was divided into 3 categories – a fun run of 5 kilometres, mini marathon of 10 kilometres and half marathon of 21 kilometres.

All runners had an opportunity to enjoy the scenery of the island and experience the lifestyle of the fisherman’s village on the island.

One of the highlights in the Bangkok Airways Half Marathon program is “Care the Bear: Change the Climate Change” which is a partnership project between Bangkok Airways and The Stock Exchange of Thailand. The campaign aims to reduce the use of plastic and foam and promote the re-use of event decorations and materials.

Bangkok Airways Samui Half-Marathon was the second event out of six planned of the Bangkok Airways Boutique Series 2019. The remaining programs are the “Lampang Half Marathon” on July 7, “Phuket Half Marathon” on August 4, “Chiang Rai Marathon” on September 15 and “Lanna Half Marathon” on November 3. The Krabi event was held on May 12.

Bangkok Airways Samui Half Marathon, second in the Thailand series | News by The Thaiger