Police intercepted a half-tonne meth shipment in a dramatic car chase in northeast Thailand.
Border patrol police chased suspected drug dealer Arwut, 40, as he was allegedly making a drug run through Highway 2009 in Kalasin, on June 8.
Footage shows officers pursuing Arwut's white car as he desperately tried to flee authorities.
Smoke poured from the tyres before the suspect screeched to a halt and jumped from the vehicle.
He attempted to escape through roadside bushes but was arrested by police.
The Border Patrol Police Division Region 2 said officers seized 1,102 pounds (500 kilogrammes) of crystal methamphetamine along with his white car.
The arrest followed the seizure of 697 pounds (316 kilogrammes) of crystal methamphetamine in Khon Kaen on May 6.
Authorities expanded the probe to track down accomplices connected to the drug trafficking network.
Investigators found that the gang had been continuously smuggling drugs from border areas in Bueng Kan into the central region.
On June 7, officers received intel from an undercover agent that the suspect would be using a white vehicle along the specified route.
They surveilled the highway before spotting the vehicle matching reports and giving chase.
Police deployed a stop stick, causing the vehicle's left rear tyre to burst, but the suspect continued driving at high speed.
Arwut eventually lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the roadside.
He then climbed out of the car and attempted to flee into nearby bushes before officers apprehended him.
The suspect testified that he currently lives in Bangkok and works as a debt collector for informal lenders.
He was allegedly hired by a Thai man in Laos to deliver narcotics from Bueng Kan to a customer in Pathum Thani in exchange for 50,000 baht per sack.
The vehicle used in the operation had been purchased for him by the alleged mastermind.
He reportedly told police: 'I agreed to deliver the 10 sacks and would have received 500,000 baht if the delivery had been successful.'
He added that he intended to share the money with his accomplice who drove a lead vehicle to scout for police checkpoints.
He claimed he had successfully completed two previous drug runs.
Police Major General Wutthiphong Yenjit, commander of Border Patrol Police Division Region 2, said: ‘We handed the suspect and the seized items over to the inquiry officer at Tha Khantho Police Station for further legal action and to expand the investigation into his accomplices.'
Thailand has become a notorious hub for drug production and trafficking. In the north of the country, the ‘Golden Triangle' area shares borders with Laos and Myanmar, and has produced large amounts of opium since the 1950s but focus in recent years has shifted to the more profitable methamphetamine.
Officials believe most of the meth is produced in the Shan State of Myanmar before being distributed through neighbouring countries where prices are higher before ending up in the most expensive markets of Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.
However, cracking down on drug production has been complicated by the influx of crime gangs from China and the Burmese civil war, which has seen the army take over the country - along with control of lucrative drugs chains.
Experienced news editor with a strong background in editorial planning, content review, headline writing, and fact-checking. Skilled in managing news coverage, ensuring accuracy, maintaining editorial standards, and delivering timely, engaging stories across digital platforms.
All Rights Reserved © 2026
