Soldiers pose with some of the 7.8 million speed pills and 50kg of crystal methamphetamine seized in Chiang Rai during a briefing at the Mengrai Maharaj military camp on Saturday morning. (Photo supplied by Royal Thai Army)CHIANG RAI: A military task force seized almost 8 million speed pills and 50kg of crystal methamphetamine from a pickup truck abandoned by a smuggler following a chase in Wiang Chiang Rung district late Friday night. Soldiers manning a checkpoint at Ban Pha village in tambon Dong Mahawan signalled a new Toyota Hilux Revo pickup truck with no licence plates to stop for a search at around 9.45pm on Friday, but the driver sped off and the troops gave chase. However, the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to plunge into a roadside ditch about 350 metres from the checkpoint. Troops found 39 fertiliser sacks containing 7.8 million speed pills and two sacks containing 50kg of crystal methamphetamine or "ice" in the bed of the pickup truck, said Lt Gen Wichak Siribansop, the Third Army commander.

Source: Bangkok Post May 19, 2018 07:07 UTC