In Chiang Mai, soldiers from the Pha Muang Task Force intercepted a six-wheel truck fully loaded with fresh ginger passing into the area. Upon searching the truck bed, they were shocked to find a massive batch of 9.9 million methamphetamine pills hidden within the ginger. The driver admitted he was paid 150,000 baht per trip.
On 14 February 2026, following recent intelligence reports from local sources and the Pha Muang Task Force’s intelligence unit, it was discovered that drug trafficking groups have been attempting to smuggle narcotics from neighboring countries into Thailand for further distribution inland.
At 09:30 that morning, the 2nd Cavalry Company, Chaiyanuphap Task Force, Pha Muang Task Force, deployed a team alongside the 2nd Military Dog Unit, Pha Muang Task Force, stationed at the Ban Rin Luang checkpoint in Muang Na Subdistrict, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province.
They spotted a six-wheel truck carrying ginger in the back and stopped it for inspection. The truck was an Isuzu NQR model, white and blue, license plate 719420 from Nakhon Pathom. Suspicious sacks were found underneath, and upon searching, 50 modified sacks containing approximately 9,970,000 tablets of Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine) were discovered.
One suspect was arrested, the driver later identified as Mr. Joompol Puttasongkram, 53, from Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. He confessed to receiving 150,000 baht for this delivery.
Later, Major General Satit Waiyanon, Commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, along with commanders from Phadong, Chaiyanuphap Task Force, Interception Unit 1, Narcotics Suppression Bureau 35, Chiang Dao Customs Checkpoint, Chiang Dao District Office, Na Wai Police Station, Pha Muang Task Force Rapid Response Company, Army Headquarters Narcotics Suppression Unit, Border Patrol Police Unit 335, and other related agencies held a press briefing on the drug seizure. The suspect and all confiscated evidence were handed over to Na Wai Police Station.