RANGERS clashed with drug traffickers twice since last night along the border with Myanmar at Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai leading to four of them being killed in the firefights but no casualties among the troops, TV Channel 7 said today (Feb. 9).
Seized after the two clashes were 195 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) and 1.2 million methamphetamine pills.
The command division of Pha Muang Task Force was tipped off that a large amount of drugs was being smuggled into Thailand and assigned the 3206th Ranger Company of the 32nd Ranger Regiment to patrol Mae Ai border area.
At around 6 p.m.yesterday they came across 10 to 15 people carrying modified backpacks but when they asked to search them, they instead opened fire. The ensuing clash lasted around 10 minutes and after that they checked the nearby area and found one drug runner killed and four modified backpacks left behind.
As it was late at night, the rangers called for reinforcement and waited to clear this zone in the morning. They continuously fired their weapons throughout the night for safety.
In the morning they found the bodies of two more drug smugglers and nine more backpacks. Each of the 13 backpacks was filled with 15kg of Ice with a total of 195kg being seized. In addition two shotguns and various types of bullet casings and other evidence were found there.
Another clash occurred today when a team from the 3201st Ranger Company, Pha Muang Task Force, ran into another of five to eight drug smugglers in this same district who likewise were carrying modified backpacks as they trekked into the Thai side of the border.
Upon being told to stop for a search the drug runners instead open fire with the clash lasting around 10 minutes. The rangers called for reinforcement and later in the day when they inspected this area they found that one drug smuggler was killed and six modified backpacks containing approximately 1.2 million meth pills left behind.
CAPTION:
Drugs seized at the scene of the first clash with drug runners in Mae Ai district today, Feb. 9. 2025. Photos: Naewna
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