Smuggler killed in border clash

Soldiers of the Pha Muang Task Force show the 350,000 speed pills seized after a clash with smugglers in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai early on Friday morning. One smuggler was killed. (Photo by Chinnapat Chaimol)

CHIANG RAI: Soldiers clashed with drug smugglers near the border early Friday morning, killing one of them and seizing 350,000 methamphetamine pills.

Maj Gen Wichit Wongsang, commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, said a unit on patrol the near the Ruak River in Ban Sri Pa Daeng of tambon Koh Chang came across the smugglers about 12.30am.

About 15 armed men were seen carrying bags across the river from Myanmar to the Thai bank.

When the soldiers signaled them to stop, they opened fire, he said. The clash lasted about 20 minutes and the intruders retreated into Myanmar.

Around dawn, the soldiers found the body of a man wearing red shorts and a black shirt with a bullet wound to the head.

Three military-style bags had also been dropped there. They contained 350,000 meth pills.