Drug courier shot dead in Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI, Sept 11 (TNA) – A drug courier was gunned down in a clash between officials and a group of drug smugglers in the northern border province of Chiang Rai on Monday night. Acting on a tip-off, the drug suppression police and soldiers from the Pha Muang Task Force patrolled a route near the Bor Thong village in Chiang Ria provincial seat, about 10 kilometres from the Thai-Myanmar border. They found about 20 armed men, who opened fire on the officials to flee. After the two sides exchanged gunfire for about 20 minutes, the suspected drug smugglers retreated into the forest. One body was found and 24 rucksacks of methamphetamine were left roadside by the group. The police believed that the drug ring was attempting to smuggle the large quantity of illegal drug on foot from the border into the provincial seat. Some suspects at large have been injured and they must carry the remaining large amount of drug with them, the police said. (TNA)