Chiang Rai police and Phan Police Station intercepted a drug trafficking ring using multiple vehicles to switch and transport drugs. Four suspects were arrested, four vehicles seized, and 600 kilograms of ice found hidden throughout a van. Authorities are accelerating efforts to expand the network investigation.
The Investigation Division of Chiang Rai Provincial Police collaborated with Phan Police Station and related agencies to intercept a major drug trafficking ring after detecting behavior involving multiple vehicles switching and rotating routes to evade checkpoints. Four suspects were arrested along with 24 sacks of ice totaling about 600 kilograms and four vehicles. The incident occurred in Phan District, Chiang Rai Province, extending into Lamphun Province. Investigations to expand the network are ongoing.
According to reports, on 18 July 2026, between approximately 23:30 and 23:40, officers from the Investigation Division of Chiang Rai Provincial Police, under the command of Police Major General Manop Senakul, Chief of Chiang Rai Provincial Police, together with police from Phan Police Station led by Police Colonel Wichai Chai Inkam, Chief of Phan Police, ordered a task force to track and arrest a major drug trafficking ring known to use multiple vehicles alternately to transport drugs from Chiang Rai border areas into inland regions.
Officers found three vehicles linked to the network separated near the Wat Rong Khun intersection before they used secondary roads and irrigation canal roads winding through village roads to avoid the drug checkpoint at Pa Tueng, Mae Lao District, heading toward Phan District. Authorities then coordinated with Phan Police Station to set up a blockade.
At about 23:40 the same night, officers intercepted a white Toyota Revo pickup truck with Lamphun license plates at the Pu Kaeng drug checkpoint in Phan District, driven by 31-year-old Mr. Natthapong. Meanwhile, another van registered in Chiang Rai and a white Toyota Yaris sedan with Bangkok plates, following behind, stopped near the roadside about 500 meters before the checkpoint.
Officers identified themselves to inspect, but the van driver accelerated to flee and collided with a police vehicle, causing damage, then fled toward Phan District. Officers pursued the van to the front of Phan Hospital, where a police vehicle blocked the way, resulting in a collision before the driver, 31-year-old Mr. Thirawut, was apprehended.
A search of the van revealed 24 sacks of ice weighing about 600 kilograms, which were seized as evidence. At the same time, officers stopped the Toyota Yaris and detained 30-year-old Ms. Thitmai, the driver, for prosecution.
On the morning of 19 July 2026 at about 07:50, officers followed up their investigation to a lodging in Nam Dip Subdistrict, Pa Sang District, Lamphun Province, where they arrested 70-year-old Mr. Karun along with a white Toyota Revo pickup truck with Lamphun plates linked to the drug trafficking ring. In total, four suspects, approximately 600 kilograms of ice, and four vehicles were seized in this operation.
Initially, authorities charged the suspects under narcotics laws before handing them and the evidence to investigators for prosecution. Investigations continue to trace the origin, accomplices, and related drug networks.