3 drug smuggling suspects killed in clash in North Thailand

Three drug smuggling suspects on Wednesday were killed in a clash with authorities in northern province of Chaing Rai, with more than 1.2 million methamphetamine pills being seized, Thai News Agency reported. While on patrol along the northern border, the special unit, comprising soldiers and police, found a group of 10 unidentified men moving out of the forest. As the authorities asked them to stop and being searched, they responded by shooting at the security team near Mae Sot district of Chiang Rai. The government force exchanged gunfire with the group for 10 minutes Three members of the group, aged 25-35 years from the Lahu ethnic tribe, were shot dead at the scene but the others escaped, according to the police. The authorities seized 11 rucksacks containing more than 1.2 million methamphetamine pills, an AK-47 assault rifle and one hand grenade.