In Chiang Mai, Police Region 5, together with local police, found about 2 million methamphetamine pills in a scrub forest. It is believed the trafficking gang, fearing they would be detected at the police's X-ray checkpoint, abandoned the drugs in the scrub forest.
At 01:00 on 24 Oct 2026, Pol. Maj. Gen. Thanarat Chumsawat, Deputy Commander of Police Region 5, ordered the Narcotics Suppression Task Force of Police Region 5, through the Investigation Division of the Police Region 5 Intelligence Bureau, to seize approximately 2,000,000 methamphetamine pills in a scrub forest along the Chiang Mai-Prao road near Nong Wai Village, Moo 12, Mae Faek Subdistrict, San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province.
According to the timeline before the incident, the investigation team received a tip from an informant about a large drug shipment. They ordered drug checkpoints, including a mobile X-ray vehicle, to be ready. It appeared the traffickers sensed the operation and dumped a large quantity of drugs in the scrub forest at the scene before fleeing.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Thanarat Chumsawat then directed the Narcotics Suppression Task Force to inspect the area, where the drugs were found. They coordinated with the duty officer of Mae Faek Police Station, Chiang Mai Province, to jointly investigate and seize the drugs to expand the investigation and identify the perpetrators.
Police initially suspect the traffickers became aware of the checkpoints equipped with advanced X-ray machines operated by Police Region 5 and therefore abandoned the drugs in the scrub forest before escaping.