15 drug smugglers die in gunfight with Thai soldiers at border in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai-

Fifteen drug smugglers died in a gunfight with Thai soldiers from The Pha Muang near the Thai-Myanmar border in the Fang district.

The Pha Muang task force commander Major General Suparerk Sathapornpol told Thai media last night (December 7^th) that Thai soldiers were watching a known drug smuggling trail in a forest in the Mon Pin sub-district. The Pha Muang task force is responsible for border patrol enforcement in the Golden Triangle area, where drug smuggling between countries is rife.

There were about 20 smugglers with bags crossing the border from Myanmar, according to Major General Suparerk. Soldiers ordered the drug smugglers to stop but they opened fire instead. The gunfight lasted about ten minutes and no Thai soldiers were injured during the operation.

This morning (December 8^th) 15 bodies of smugglers with 29 bags of crystal methamphetamine, a Kabine rifle, and a hand grenade were found at the scene.

The identities of the drug smugglers and the operation they were involved with are still under investigation by the Pha Muang task force.

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The original version of this article appeared on our sister website, The Pattaya News, owned by our parent company TPN media.