Fleeing Smugglers Abandon 2.3 Million Speed Pills in Chiang Mai
CHIANG MAI, Thailand – Drug smugglers abandoned over 2.3 million methamphetamine tablets, also known as “speed pills,” as they fled from authorities in Chiang Mai’s Chiang Dao district, officials announced on Wednesday.
The haul was seized by the Pha Muang Task Force, a military unit responsible for border security and drug suppression in Thailand’s northern provinces. The bust occurred near the Thai-Myanmar border during a nighttime operation after surveillance teams detected suspicious movements along a known smuggling route.
According to the task force, as officers moved in, a group of suspected smugglers dropped their cargo and escaped into the dense forest under cover of darkness. No arrests were made at the scene, but officials say the operation successfully disrupted a major drug trafficking attempt.
The seized pills were packed in multiple sacks and are believed to have originated from drug syndicates operating across the border in Myanmar’s Shan State.
This latest seizure pushes the task force’s total since October 1 to over 110 million meth pills, along with large quantities of heroin, ketamine, and crystal methamphetamine. The dramatic spike in seizures highlights the escalating battle against narcotics flowing across Thailand’s northern borders.
Authorities say anti-drug operations will continue to intensify in coordination with international partners, especially as trafficking networks grow more sophisticated.
An investigation is ongoing to identify the group responsible for the latest smuggling attempt.
