Five drugs killed and two injured in Thai north

CHIANG RAI, Jan 27 (TNA) -- Soldiers was caught in a shoot out last night, while they were trying to disrupt a drug smuggling caravan on Doi Pha Mhee mountain range near the Thai-Myanmar border in northern province of Chiang Rai, during which the officers had killed five and injured two other suspects. At approximately 9.30 pm, Thailand's time last night, soldiers from the special unit of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment at Pha Muang Task Force were caught in a gun fight with a drug syndicate on Doi Pha Mhee mountain range of Wiang Phang Kham subdistrict, Mae Sai district, of Chiang Rai province, which is located next to the Myanmar border, after they have been tipped off that drugs would be smuggled across the border into Thailand last night. The task force were mobilised to the area for an ambush, in a bid to stop the criminals from trafficking the drugs into the Thailand. After finding few suspected carrying large backpacks, a group of soldiers had asked to search the belongings. Instead of allowing the officials to inspect their bags, the group fired shots at the authorities, causing a shoot out to erupt. Five of the suspects were killed on the spot, two others were injured, while some had escaped using the night as a cover. None of the soldiers were hurt and had remained stationed at the scene throughout the night, as they planned to examine the scene in the morning. Authorities, meanwhile, has cordoned off the area from the public and the media, in fears that the drug gang might come back to collect the dead and the injured. (TNA)