A FIERCE firefight between a group of drug traffickers bringing a caravan into Mae Chan district of Chiang Rai province and a ranger unit from the Pha Muang Task Force last night (Feb. 26) left one ranger injured and a search of the area this morning led to the seizure of 1.6 million methamphetamine pills and the arrest of three Muser hilltribe men, Naew Na newspaper said.
Maj. Gen. Narit Thavornwong, commander of the Pha Muang Task Force and director of the Centre for the Prevention and Suppression of Drugs, who visited the area of the gunfight today said the ranger who got injured was shot in the right foot.
The ranger unit patrolling the border spotted the caravan being brought across to Thailand by 16 to 17 men and when asked to stop they instead opened fire with the clash lasting around 20 minutes. After that reinforcement came in and surrounded the area with a search conducted in the morning.
It is not known what casualties the drug smuggling gang suffered.
The 1.6 million tablets of meth pills were found packed in 16 backpacks which had fallen along the caravan route.
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The scene of the clash between rangers and drug smugglers this morning. Photos: Naew Na
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