Teen driver runs out of fuel during long chase, caught with 2 million meth pills

Highway police have arrested an 18-year-old driver and seized two million methamphetamine pills following a 20km car chase that only ended when the suspect's vehicle ran out of fuel.

The arrest took place on Friday in Tha Sathon sub-district of Phunphin district in Surat Thani province.

Officers spotted a car without license plates and signalled it to pull over, but the driver sped away.

After a high-speed pursuit, the suspect’s car sputtered to a halt. The driver, identified only as ‘Sirirat’, 18, bolted from the vehicle into nearby bushes, but was quickly cornered and apprehended by pursuing officers.

A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered five fertiliser sacks wrapped in black plastic bags, two hidden in the trunk and three on the passenger seats. Inside the sacks, police discovered a total of two million methamphetamine pills, commonly known in Thailand as yaba.

Officers also seized two mobile phones, 50,000 baht in cash and the vehicle used in the smuggling attempt.

During interrogation, the teenage suspect reportedly confessed to all charges. He has been handed over to local investigators and charged with unauthorised possession of a Category 1 narcotic with intent to sell, driving under the influence of illicit substances and illegal consumption of a Category 1 drug.

According to highway police, this operation marks the fourth major drug bust in Surat Thani province this year, with cumulative seizures reaching over 6.65 million methamphetamine pills and 30 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, or Ice.