In Chiang Rai Province, police engaged in a tense chase after a drug trafficking gang. The suspects fled by car until they got stuck in a ditch, then escaped into the forest. Eventually, two suspects were captured along with over 3 million methamphetamine pills as evidence.
On 3 Sep 2026, Chiang Saen police joined forces with the investigation unit of Region 5 Police to set up a blockade against a drug trafficking operation after detecting suspicious activity moving drugs from the Mae Sai border into inner areas. Lieutenant Colonel Udom Phonnuan, Deputy Patrol Chief at Chiang Saen Police Station, led officers in establishing the checkpoint as planned.
Under the command of Police Lieutenant General Kritthaphon Yisakorn, Region 5 Police Commander, Police Major General Manop Senakul, Chief of Chiang Rai Provincial Police, Police Colonel Ratphon Noichangkit, Deputy Chief of Chiang Rai Police, Police Colonel Thawachwong Chookitkun, Superintendent of Investigation Unit 3, Region 5 Police, and Police Colonel Anuphan Kantharat, Superintendent of Chiang Saen Police Station, with Deputy Superintendent Kittipoom Kanjina and Lieutenant Colonel Samroeng Sitthiworapanya from Investigation Unit 3, Region 5 Police, along with Rittidet Janyapong, Senior District Officer of Chiang Saen, and Chiang Saen Marine Police, coordinated and executed the operation.
Authorities spotted a suspicious vehicle—a gray Toyota Innova with Chiang Mai license plates—traveling along the route from Ban San Thanon to Ban Dai, passing Ban Pa Thon in Ko Chang Subdistrict, heading toward Chom Kitti in Wiang Subdistrict, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province.
When the vehicle reached the area in front of Wat Phra That Chom Kitti, officers signaled for inspection. The driver noticed in time and attempted to speed away, turning left onto the road near Nong Bua Park in Ban Huai Kiang. Officers pursued the vehicle for about one kilometer until it became stuck in a ditch and could not continue. The driver then abandoned the car and fled into the adjacent forest.
Officers coordinated with the investigation team to encircle the area and deployed drones for aerial searches. Lieutenant Colonel Kritkorn Kanjina, Investigator at Ko Chang Police Station, Mae Sai District, led his team in tracking and pressuring the suspect until they detected movement about 100 meters from the vehicle in the forest. They apprehended the suspect, identified as Mr. Anucha Pansanthee, 30, from Samnak Tako Subdistrict, Theparak District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
Officers then searched the Toyota Innova and found 15 sacks of drugs concealed in the rear of the vehicle. Each sack contained approximately 200,000 methamphetamine pills, totaling about 3 million pills, which were seized as evidence.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that Mr. Anucha received this batch of methamphetamine from the border area in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province. Another vehicle acted as a guide car to scout routes and alert the traffickers of police movements before entering the inner areas.
Subsequently, authorities coordinated with Mae Chan Police Station to intercept the lead vehicle. They located a white Toyota Yaris on Phahonyothin Road heading into Chiang Rai city near Radio Station 914. The driver was stopped and taken into custody, identified as Mr. Thaworn Doikoksung, 38, from Non Mueang Subdistrict, Kham Sakaesaeng District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
Initially, Mr. Thaworn confessed that he served as the lead vehicle guiding the drug transport convoy and was paid about 100,000 baht before being tracked and arrested by authorities.
In total, police detained two suspects and seized 15 sacks of methamphetamine, approximately 3 million pills, along with two vehicles linked to the trafficking operation.
Authorities have handed the suspects and evidence to investigators to proceed with legal actions. They are expediting inquiries to trace the masterminds, financiers, and networks involved, as well as examining transport routes and connections between the two vehicles to prosecute all participants in the trafficking ring.