A skirmish erupted along the northern border, resulting in the deaths of four people involved in drug trafficking. The confrontation occurred late on Monday, January 13, leading to the seizure of 34 sacks of crystal methamphetamine (Ice), which weighed over 1 tonne.
Major General Kidakorn Chantra, commander of the Pha Mueang Force, and Lieutenant Colonel Jakkrapong Sodsri, deputy commander of the Task Force Chaotak, inspected the clash site between soldiers from Company 1, Chaotak Task Force, and the drug couriers yesterday, January 14 at 11am.
The confrontation took place in Ban Pang Mahan, village 8, Thoet Thai subdistrict, Mae Fa Luang district, Chiang Rai province, approximately 600 metres from the border.
The clash began around 10.15pm on January 13, as soldiers from Company 1, Chaotak Task Force, were monitoring the area to prevent drug-related offences. They identified a group of suspicious individuals carrying backpacks and attempted to intervene.
However, the group responded by opening fire with unidentified weapons, resulting in a 20-minute exchange. The opposing group eventually retreated into the neighbouring country. Following the skirmish, two operational units were deployed to secure the area due to the nighttime conditions.
At dawn, officers cleared the clash site and discovered approximately 34 backpacks, along with the bodies of four deceased individuals from the opposing group. Upon inspecting the bags, it was determined that they contained a total of about 1,155 kilogrammes of Ice, spread across 35 backpacks. It is believed the drugs were destined for a third country, using Thailand as a transit route.
Major General Kidakorn suggested that the group comprised approximately 30 to 35 individuals who transported the drugs from a neighbouring border. Despite receiving a warning signal from the police, the group chose to engage in a firefight, resulting in casualties on their side. The remaining members presumably abandoned their heavy sacks and fled back to the neighbouring country.
Major General Kidakorn further urged those involved in drug trafficking to reconsider whether the risk of smuggling drugs from neighbouring countries into Thailand is worth endangering their lives.
He emphasised the broader impact on the community, particularly on the youth who may become addicted to these substances, and urged traffickers to weigh the consequences of their actions, reported KhaoSod.
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