CHIANG RAI, Thailand – Security forces found 8 million methamphetamine pills hidden in 27 sacks on a cemetery in Thoeng district. The haul is one of the biggest drug seizures in the region.
The pills, stamped with “999”, were discovered on July 31, 2026, during a raid by the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB 3) and a ranger unit. They were stored on the cemetery of Ban Sao Wa village, awaiting transport further into Thailand.
Yaba stash on a cemetery
The drugs are type 1 methamphetamine, known on the street as yaba. The 27 sacks contained roughly 8 million tablets.
Authorities believe the shipment was meant for the domestic market after crossing the border from Laos.
Mastermind Long Sae-Lee hiding in Laos
Intelligence points to a man named Long Sae-Lee, of Hmong descent, as the network leader. He is believed to be hiding on the Lao side of the Mekong River.
Investigators say he uses courier networks from ethnic minorities – so-called short-range pilots – to cross the border illegally.
Production in Shan State, smuggled over the Mekong
The yaba came from production sites in Ban Pu Na Ko in Myanmar’s Shan State. From there it was moved to Muang Pong in Laos.
The smuggling route passed through Ton Pheung and Ban Huay Xai in Laos’ Bokeo province. It then crossed natural border trails at Ban Huay Luek in Chiang Rai’s Wiang Kaen district into Thailand.
Route snaked through four Chiang Rai districts
Inside Thailand, the drugs travelled through Wiang Kaen, Chiang Khong, Khun Tan and Phaya Mengrai districts. The final stop before the planned onward journey was the cemetery in Thoeng.
The authorities got there first and seized the entire shipment before it could be moved.
Stamp ‘999’ links to border workshops
Every pill carries the mark 999. Police suspect the stamp comes from tablet-pressing workshops in border villages.
The yaba powder is believed to originate from Ban Pu Na Ko in Myanmar, matching patterns from earlier seizures.
Manhunt for smugglers continues
The investigation is now expanding. Authorities aim to identify and arrest all members of the smuggling network.
So far there are no confirmed leads on the so-called long-range pilots who were supposed to transport the drugs deeper into the country.