CHIANG RAI — Eight drug couriers were killed and 600,000 methamphetamine pills and three assault rifles seized in a clash between a ranger unit and a band of armed drug couriers near the Thai-Myanmar border in Mae Sai district on Saturday night, according to media reports.
The clash occurred at about 8.30pm after a patrol of the 31st Rangers Task Force spotted a band of about 15 armed drug couriers about 2 kilometres from the border in tambon Wiang Phang Kham.
When ordered to stop for a search, the couriers opened fire. The rangers returned fire, and the exchange lasted for about 10 minutes. Some of the couriers then fled into the darkness.
The rangers called for reinforcements and maintained control of the area throughout the night.
In a search of the area on Sunday morning, the rangers found eight drug couriers lying dead on the spot. Found nearby the bodies were six backpacks containing about 600,000 methamphetamine pills, two M16 and one AK47 assault rifles.