CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – The Pha Mueang Force seized nearly four million methamphetamine tablets and 4.8 kilograms of raw opium in Wiang Haeng district, while the suspected smugglers escaped from a remote shelter.
Operation in Chiang Mai border area
On 10 April 2026 at around 6 p.m., the Pha Mueang Force deployed an operations unit from the 1st Cavalry Company of the Chaiyanupap special unit, according to its own account.
The operation took place in Tambon Piang Luang, Wiang Haeng district, Chiang Mai province. It was intended to patrol the area and prevent drug offences under the Thai Narcotics Code (B.E. 2021).
Suspects found in makeshift shelter
The team continued patrolling until 8:30 a.m. on 11 April 2026 to follow up on leads in an area described as suspicious.
During this patrol, officers encountered a man and a woman in a makeshift accommodation area, described as a cottage, at the end of Piang Luang village.
Flight after contact with military forces
The unit stated that it had identified itself and demanded to carry out a search.
When the individuals saw the soldiers, they reportedly fled, using their knowledge of the terrain to escape.
Discovery of 20 sacks of drugs
In the subsequent search, the team found 20 sacks that had been converted into backpack-like carrying units.
The sacks were hidden inside a camouflage-patterned sleeping tent. Officers seized a total of 3,993,400 methamphetamine tablets, classified as a Category 1 narcotic, and three packages of raw opium, a Category 2 substance, weighing about 4.8 kilograms.
Handover to police and public information
At about 6:30 p.m. on 11 April 2026, Major General Sathit Wainon, commander of the Pha Mueang Force, inspected the seized drugs.
Colonel Amnat Wachirasaksochana, commander of the Chaiyanupap special unit, represented the force commander, coordinated with the responsible agencies and briefed the media. The evidence was handed over to Wiang Haeng Police Station.
Record since October 2025: Hundreds of interceptions
According to a summary by the unit, 312 drug interception operations had been carried out since 1 October 2025, resulting in the arrest of 311 suspects and the seizure of large quantities of various drugs.
The figures listed included 188,019,415 methamphetamine tablets, 3.4 kilograms of heroin, 3,282.2 kilograms of “Ice”, 174.3 kilograms of opium and 437.4 kilograms of ketamine.
Clashes and claimed economic damage
During this period, the Pha Mueang Force reported 43 clashes with smuggling groups, in which 35 people from those groups were killed.
The unit further stated that, had the seized narcotics reached the Bangkok area, they could have caused economic damage of up to 31,935 million baht, based on their sales value.