Pha Muang Task Force soldiers combined forces to intercept a cross-border drug trafficking operation, opening fire in a fierce gunfight lasting five minutes near the Chiang Saen district border. They seized a large batch of methamphetamine in 10 sacks, totaling nearly 2 million pills. They also disclosed that since October 2025 until now, over 276 million methamphetamine pills have been confiscated.
On 8 August 2026 at 00:30 GMT+7, Pha Muang Task Force, through the 4th Cavalry Company of the Tak Royal Task Force, deployed a unit to patrol and intercept violations under the 2021 Narcotics Act at the Wiang Kaeo 3 crossing, Ban Wiang Kaeo, Village No. 5, Sri Don Moon Subdistrict, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province.
During the operation, officers spotted approximately 10–15 suspicious individuals carrying sacks on their backs, moving along the terrain. Officers signaled to identify themselves and request a search, but the group opened fire with unknown firearms, initiating a shootout lasting about five minutes. The traffickers then used their local knowledge to escape. All officers remained unharmed.
Later, at 07:00 GMT+7, authorities reinforced with two more operational units to thoroughly inspect the area. They found 10 straw sacks wrapped in black plastic bags containing a total of approximately 1,928,000 methamphetamine pills, classified as a Category 1 narcotic.
At 13:30 GMT+7, Major General Satit Waiyanon, Commander of Pha Muang Task Force, assigned Colonel Suphan Roiput, Commander of the Tak Royal Task Force, to represent the unit and collaborate with relevant agencies for a press briefing on the drug seizure. All seized items were handed over to investigators at Chiang Saen Police Station for legal proceedings and further investigation.
Pha Muang Task Force summarized their anti-drug operations in their jurisdiction (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok) from 1 October 2025 to present as follows: 466 interception operations, 445 arrests, 65 armed clashes (resulting in 50 traffickers killed). Total seized drugs include 276,916,745 methamphetamine pills, 6,674.3 kilograms of crystal meth (ice), 378.6 kilograms of opium, 20 kilograms of heroin, 3.29 kilograms of cocaine, and 1,089.5 kilograms of ketamine.
Officials stated that if all the seized narcotics had been transported into Bangkok and its metropolitan area, the economic damage would have amounted to approximately 49.34 billion baht (49,340,316,631 baht).
Pha Muang Task Force urged the public to cooperate as watchful eyes and ears. If anyone notices children or individuals involved in drug-related activities, they can report information via the Pha Muang Task Force hotline at 053-211054 ext. 12 to help ensure community safety and peace of mind.