The commander of the Pha Muang Task Force told a press briefing drugs that drug enforcement efforts in 2024 have led to the seizure of 4 times the amount of illegal drugs seized in both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai last year.
In 2023, there were 18 clashes, 34 drug smuggling gangs died, and 42,609,536 drugs were seized, with a drug value of 8,200 million baht.
Maj. Gen. Prawat Phopsuwan, commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board Region 5 jointly announced the results of the crackdown on drug trafficking networks.
He told reporters that in just over 11 months from October 2024 to the present, drug enforcement efforts have led to 432 drug interceptions, the arrest of 449 suspects, seized 186,152,547 methamphetamine pills, 268.1 kilograms of heroin, 1,438.3 kilograms of ice, 197.1 kilograms of opium, and 29.3 kilograms of ketamine, with a drug value of 29,668 million baht.
Thirty-five drug smugglers were killed in 49 clashes with drug enforcement officials, of which 37 were at night and 12 were during the day.
Maj. Gen. Prawat said officials have devoted their physical and mental strength, even though it is raining during this period. Fog at night and in the morning reduced visibility. However, the officers never stopped working and were able to arrest and seize a large number of drugs.
We can see that the number of drugs has increased four times, and the clashes and arrests have increased tenfold, as has the amount of drugs being shipped across the border from the Golden Triangle.
It is expected that the situation of drug smuggling will continue to be this severe. Part of the reason is the unrest in neighboring countries, which has caused drugs to be smuggled in to gain weapons and money to strengthen the fighting force, along with the increasing domestic demand. The price of drugs has decreased, and it has also been found that the production of heroin poppies has also increased.
He said that the methamphetamine pills with the Manchester United symbol are just a symbol made specifically for a group. It is not special. It is just that each group wants the product to be produced in the same way as the symbol of the customer group that ordered it.
It is no different from the symbols 999 and Apple, which have been seized in the past.
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Geoff Thomas is an award winning journalist known for his sharp insights and no-nonsense reporting style. Over the years he has worked for Reuters and the Canadian Press covering everything from political scandals to human interest stories. He brings a clear and direct approach to his work.
