Five suspected drug traffickers were killed and almost 500,000 methamphetamine pills were recovered following the operation by the Thai army near the infamous golden triangle region.
In the early hours of Thursday, the military patrol encountered smugglers carrying back-packs in Chiang Rai province near the golden triangle region.
This region has a jungle that borders Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar and has long been a lucrative hub for the illegal drug trade.
According to the Thai military task force, the group of 5 opened fire, and an armed clash ensued that lasted about five minutes.
Earlier this week, six alleged drug smugglers were killed in a similar clash in nearby Chiang Mai province.
Drug smuggling in the golden triangle surged following the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 with reports of booming production and trafficking of methamphetamine pills and opium.
According to UN Office on Drugs which is posed to release a new report about opium cultivation in Myanmar, the production of the drug which has been declining for a decade increased slightly in 2021.
Thai Army Kills 5 Suspected Drug Smugglers Near Golden Triangle
I'm a senior member at Forsige covering topics on diplomacy and foreign policy relating to Asia and the World.