CHIANG RAI - A stash of methamphetamine has been found hidden near the scene of a clash near the Myanmar border in which a ranger unit killed nine smugglers about two weeks ago.
Another 500,000 speed pills were found in fertiliser sacks not far from the scene in Mae Sai district, it was announced at a news conference outside Mae Sai police station on Friday. This raised the total drug seizure from the operation to 1.2 million methamphetamine pills.
On May 14, rangers intercepted 15 drug couriers and killed nine of them in the firefight that followed, about 2 kilometres from the border in tambon Wiang Phang Kham, Mae Sai district.
They seized about 700,000 methamphetamine pills and three assault rifles.
Earlier media reports were that eight smugglers were killed and 600,000 speed pills and three assault rifles seized. The figures were updated at Friday's media briefing by Col Pakpong Ngae-santia, deputy commander of the 31st ranger task force.
Rangers patrolling the area had since found several fertiliser sacks hidden not far away. The sacks held 500,000 speed pills, he said.
It was believed the drugs were left there by the fleeing smugglers after the clash on May 14. The drugs were believed to belong to Muser traffickers led by Ja-ngoi, Col Pakpong said.