The investigative team of Chor Hor Police Station in Korat conducted a drug sting operation. The suspect drew a gun and fired to escape; police returned fire, resulting in one death. An 18-year-old woman involved in the network was arrested along with seized ice, yaba pills, and a 9mm handgun.
At approximately 23:55 on 1 July 2026, a shootout occurred between Chor Hor Police Station’s investigative team and suspected drug dealers during a sting operation on Suranarai Road (Highway 290), past the bridge heading toward Non Thai District, Village No. 9, Khok Sung Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The male suspect was shot and injured, later dying at the hospital. A female suspect was arrested along with seized drugs and a firearm.
According to officials, the Chor Hor investigative team received a tip from an informant about a drug delivery scheduled in the area. They planned to track and conduct a sting operation until they spotted two suspect vehicles parked roadside. Officers blocked both front and rear of the vehicles to make arrests. During the operation, one suspect inside a vehicle fired a gun at officers to create an escape path, prompting the team to return fire before regaining control of the situation.
After the incident, officers identified the male suspect as Mr. Phathan, 45, from Pathum Thani Province. He was shot inside the vehicle and taken by rescue workers to Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital but later died. The woman in the other vehicle, Ms. Lalita, 18, from Chaiyaphum Province, was taken into custody for prosecution.
During the search, officers seized a 9mm handgun with ammunition, two bags of ice, and a quantity of yaba pills. Additionally, five vehicles linked to the incident were found damaged due to the shootout. Following the event, Pol. Col. Kachenchart Setaputta, Acting Deputy Commander of Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police, Pol. Col. Siwapak Phuangchan, Chief of Chor Hor Police Station, and related officials inspected the scene. Investigators, together with medical examiners from Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, conducted a postmortem and collected evidence to pursue legal action and expand the investigation into the drug network. Authorities are currently investigating to identify accomplices and thoroughly examine drug trafficking routes.