1.3 million meth pills seized along Mekong in Nong Khai

2026-03-21 - 09:10

NONG KHAI — 21 March 2026, Authorities in northeastern Thailand have seized 1.3 million methamphetamine pills worth an estimated 39 million baht (about 1.1 million USD) along the Mekong River, officials said. The drugs were discovered by village security volunteers during a patrol of a high-risk border area in Sangkhom district, provincial officials announced. According to the governor of Nong Khai, the team was patrolling the Mekong riverbank near Ban Pha Daeng village at about 08:30 on 20 March when they found three suspicious packages left by the water. Officials later confirmed the packages contained about 1.3 million methamphetamine tablets following testing with chemical reagents. Authorities believe the drugs were smuggled into the country by trafficking networks and left at the riverside in preparation for transport to inner provinces. The seized narcotics have been handed over to relevant agencies for further investigation as officials work to identify those involved in the smuggling operation.