In Chiang Mai, Border Patrol Police Company 335 seized a large shipment of 5.2 million methamphetamine pills in Mae Taeng district. The smugglers escaped the checkpoint by using secondary routes to transport drugs from Wiang Haeng district, preparing to distribute them to inner areas. The drugs were marked with the stamp "Na CheX Pikachu 999." Tags: [drug seizure, Chiang Mai, Border Patrol Police, methamphetamine, drug trafficking]
On 5 July 2026, reporters reported that Border Patrol Police Company 335 deployed forces to surround a drug network at the entrance to Pong Saen Thong village, Chom Chaeng subdistrict, Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai province.Tags: [drug raid, Border Patrol Police, Chiang Mai, Mae Taeng]
After receiving reports of drug smuggling via a four-door pickup truck from Wiang Haeng district passing through Muang Khong route in Chiang Dao district and then taking secondary routes through Mae Taeng district, officers gathered intelligence and spread forces to surround the area.Tags: [drug trafficking, vehicle smuggling, Chiang Dao, Mae Taeng, police operation]
At 04:30 on 4 July 2026, a suspicious pickup truck matching the report entered the public road of Pong Saen Thong village, Chom Chaeng subdistrict, Mae Taeng district. Taking advantage of darkness, it tried to escape. Upon inspection, the black tarp-covered pickup bed contained 23 rectangular sacks wrapped in black bags, loaded in the bed and passenger cabin, totaling 5.2 million methamphetamine pills.Tags: [drug seizure, methamphetamine, police inspection, Mae Taeng]
Officers then inspected the area near the scene and found one suspicious man, who was taken in for questioning at the Border Patrol Police Region 3 headquarters in Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai, along with the evidence: one motorcycle, one pickup truck, andTags: [arrest, police investigation, Border Patrol Police, Mae Taeng]
5.2 million methamphetamine pills.Tags: [methamphetamine, drug evidence, seizure]
Police Major General Woraphat Boonma, Commander of Border Patrol Police Region 3, revealed that intensified patrols and checkpoints have pressured drug networks to attempt smuggling drugs into inner areas. This shipment was picked up from Wiang Haeng district, loaded to capacity like cargo, then transported via secondary routes. Two couriers rode motorcycles to scout police movements, but officers caught one suspect, Anuwat Leeja, 23, hiding near the scene.Tags: [police statement, drug smuggling, Border Patrol Police, Chiang Mai]
In interrogation, Anuwat confessed his role was to scout and check checkpoints from the viewpoint area to Mae Taeng, for which he was paid 5,000 baht. He came with a friend, each on a motorcycle. When his friend saw police, he fled and informed the drug transport vehicle, which then escaped into the forest.Tags: [suspect confession, drug operation, Mae Taeng]
This shipment is considered a large batch smuggled into inner areas by the drug network. Border Patrol Police transferred Anuwat to Mae Taeng Police Station for prosecution and are expanding investigations to arrest remaining accomplices for legal action.Tags: [drug network, prosecution, law enforcement, Chiang Mai]
Reports state that this methamphetamine batch was stamped with "Na CheX Pikachu 999."Tags: [drug markings, methamphetamine, drug identification]