Armed drug smugglers killed in clash with border rangers in Chiang Rai

Two armed drug smugglers were killed in a clash with border rangers in Chiang Rai along the Thai-Myanmar frontier on Thursday.

Pha Muang Force spotted a small group of armed men with backpacks in the forest near Ban Huai Kra in the Mae Fa Luang district on Thursday evening.

The officers told the men to stop for a search, but the smugglers opened fire, which was quickly returned by the patrol. The ensuing firefight lasted about five minutes before the surviving gang members made off. No soldiers were injured.

Officers set up a defensive position in the area as it was after sunset and, on Friday morning, officers inspected the scene and found the two drug smugglers killed the previous night in the clash with border rangers.

Soldiers found two AK-47 assault rifles and two batches of 4,000 meth pills near the bodies.

They believe the pair were part of a frontline force protecting…