Nearly 1 Million Meth Pills Seized En Route to Bangkok
Nearly 1 Million Meth Pills Seized En Route to Bangkok
BANGKOK, June 17, 2026 — Thai authorities have seized 964,000 methamphetamine pills concealed in a modified pickup truck and arrested two suspected drug couriers in northern Thailand, officials said on Tuesday.
The operation was announced by Lampang Governor Wiwat Inthaiwong and senior provincial officials following the interception of a suspected drug trafficking network transporting narcotics toward Bangkok.
The suspects, identified as Wat Thanasin, 28, known as “Jab,” and Khan Chai, 18, known as “Yim,” both from Chiang Mai province, were arrested shortly before 2 a.m. on June 14 in Mae Phrik district, Lampang province.
Authorities said officers were alerted by a License Plate Recognition (LPR) system that flagged a white Toyota Hilux Revo registered in Chiang Mai for repeatedly using secondary roads believed to be intended to avoid police checkpoints.
Police established surveillance and set up a roadblock after receiving the intelligence. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle near Mae Chiang Rai Bon village, the driver allegedly accelerated and tried to flee, triggering a pursuit that ended with the arrest of both occupants.
An initial search found no illegal items. However, investigators remained suspicious and transported the vehicle to the Mae Phrik narcotics checkpoint for further inspection. An X-ray examination revealed a specially modified compartment hidden beneath the cargo area containing 964,000 methamphetamine tablets.
During questioning, the suspects allegedly admitted they had been hired by a trafficker known only as “Tai Yai” to transport the drugs from Sansai district in Chiang Mai to recipients in Bangkok.
Police said the pair agreed to receive a total payment of 100,000 baht for the delivery, split equally between them, and had already received 10,000 baht in advance.
The suspects have been charged with narcotics-related offences and were transferred to Mae Phrik Police Station along with the seized drugs for further legal proceedings.
Authorities said investigations are continuing to identify and apprehend the network’s organizers and other individuals involved in the trafficking operation.
