A Police Lance Corporal was shot and killed during a shoot-out with drug traffickers in Mae Taeng on November 29, 2016 at around 10 p.m. in Keelek in Mae Taeng.
Police had set up a sting with Kanawith Nithikomporn to purchase 2,000 methamphetamine tablets. Kanawith then contacted two people to obtain the drugs, Prasert Laolee, age 35 and Suthasinee Sae Nor of Prachinburi to deliver the drugs at a bypass road in Keelek, Mae Taeng.
The couple drove to the meeting point where they were ambushed by police, Prasert fired at the police with a shot gun who returned fire. Pol. Lance Corporal Sirayuth Noiarun was shot and died at the hospital. The two suspects fled into the forest where police found a blood trail. Police found the car belonging to Suthasinee in San Sai.
Police have charged Kanawuth and continue the search for the missing couple for the death of the Police Lance Corporal.
Police Lance Corporal Sirayuth Noiarun was 23 years old and a native Muslim of Chiang Mai. He was a Police Non-Commissioned Officer Student from Region Police Training Center 5, the 2nd Company of 2013. He graduated in October 2014 and began duty as a Squad Leader (Suppression) at Galyanivadhana Police Station. He was then assigned for temporary duty for drug suppression with the Chiang Mai Provincial Police. He was posthumously promoted five ranks to Police Sub-Lieutenant. His body was sent to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. At 11am on November 30,2016, Pol. Maj. Gen. Poonsub Prasrtsak, Acting for Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5 visited his mother and gave her funds to help with the hospital bills. The funeral was held at Chang Klan Cemetery on the same day.
