CHIANG RAI— In a major blow to cross-border drug trafficking, narcotics police officers and military units successfully intercepted a massive shipment of crystal meth, commonly known as “Ice,” late Saturday night. The operation resulted in the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of 330 kilograms of the high-purity drug.
The sting operation took place around 10:40 PM on May 9, 2026, at a petrol station located on the Western Bypass road, just a short distance from Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport.
Acting on intelligence regarding a large-scale drug movement from the border regions, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB), specifically Division 3, teamed up with the “Thap Chao Tak” Task Force and the Pha Muang Force. Under the direction of Police Lieutenant General Archayon Kraithong and Police Major General Adit Charoensawat, officers tracked a suspicious convoy moving from the frontier toward the interior of the country.
Surveillance teams watched as two vehicles—a brown Toyota sedan and a black Yamaha R15 motorcycle—pulled into the gas station. To avoid detection at standard checkpoints, the suspects had been using the motorcycle as a “scout” vehicle to lead the way and signal for police presence.
However, the authorities were one step ahead. As soon as the vehicles came to a stop, officers moved in to surround them.
A Massive Discovery Behind the Seats
During the search of the brown Toyota, officers discovered 12 large sacks crammed into the rear passenger area behind the driver’s seat. Upon opening the sacks, they found 330 individual bricks of crystal meth, weighing approximately 330 kilogramsin total.
The two men arrested at the scene were identified by police as:
- Mr. Kaew(last name withheld), 34, a resident of Chiang Saen District.
- Mr. Ananwat(last name withheld), 49, a resident of Mae Sai District.
According to investigators, the suspects intended to use the gas station as a hand-off point before distributing the narcotics further into the central provinces of Thailand.
Both suspects were taken into custody, and their vehicles were seized as evidence. The authorities have officially charged the pair with:
- Joint possession of a Category 1 narcotic (Ice/Methamphetamine) for sale without permission.
- Engaging in drug trafficking that affects national security and public safety.
The seized drugs have a massive street value, and officials noted that preventing this shipment from reaching the “inner zones” of the country is a significant victory for public safety.
This bust highlights the ongoing struggle against drug syndicates operating along the Golden Triangle borders. Police Colonel Tiwapong Pluto, Superintendent of the NSB Division 3, emphasized that cooperation between the police and the military remains vital.
“The traffickers are constantly changing their tactics, using scout vehicles and alternative routes,” a spokesperson for the Pha Muang Force noted during a briefing. “Our intelligence networks are working 24/7 to shut down these corridors.”
The case has been handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings, as police look to expand the investigation to identify the “big fish” behind this multi-million dollar shipment.
