Troops from the Pha Muang Task Force seized about 4.2 million methamphetamine tablets today, contained in 15 bags abandoned in the jungle of Mae Fah Luang district of Chiang Rai, following a clash with a drug caravan yesterday afternoon.
Four task force units were on a routine patrol of the Thai-Myanmar border, in Ban Pu Na, Thoedthai sub-district, when they encountered a group of about 10 men, carrying bags suspected to contain illegal narcotics.
The troops ordered them to stop for a search, only to be fired upon, triggering a brief gun battle. The troops did not immediately move in to check the bags, fearing that armed men, believed to be hill tribe people, might still be hiding nearby.
The troops kept vigil from a safe distance until this morning, when they decided to comb the area and found the abandoned drugs.
According to the task force, about 179 million methamphetamine tablets, 158kg of heroin, 8.9 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine, 696kg of ketamine and 97kg of opium have been seized since October last year.
The troops have also killed 34 traffickers in 54 clashes during the same period.
