Marine 1 Platoon 1st Female Paramilitary Marine Platoon Activities On the western frontier, where there is sporadic fighting, the Thahan Phran work closely with the RTA and the Border Patrol Police. On the eastern border, facing Laos and Cambodia, they now have primary responsibility for border surveillance and protection. Many Rangers have been killed or wounded in recent years during cross-border attacks by Burmese troops or their allies, the United Wa State Army and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. In February 2001, a 19-man Thahan Phran base designated Unit 9631, situated at Ban Pang Noon near Mae Sai on the Thai-Myanmar border, was captured by 500 Burmese troops. The RTA has tripled the strength of the Thahan Phran in the southern peninsula since violence surged there in 2004. In October 1981 a 39-man unit of Thahan Phran and Burmese guerrillas attempted to assassinate the drug warlord Khun Sa at the instigation of the US Drug Enforcement Administration. The attempt failed, however in January 1982 a Thahan Phran squad from Pak Thong Chai, together with units from the BPP and the Royal Thai Army, was used to force Khun Sa to move his headquarters from Ban Hin Taek in northwest Thailand across the border into Myanmar. Units of the Thahan Phran have been sent to the deep south to curb the South Thailand insurgency since 2004. They been responsible for apprehending and killing many key leaders in the area, but have also suffered casualties from ambushes. See also Village Scouts Pakistan Rangers, a similar organization in Pakistan References External links Thahan Phran Official Website Thahan Phran Thahan Prahan (Royal Thai Rangers) Thahan Phran insignia "The boys in black, Thailand's dangerous, dark influence." Are a disbanded group of specialist military rangers the shadowy figures operating in the current conflict? Here is a look at the history of the country's hunter-fighters, a group of trained killers. Law enforcement in Thailand Paramilitary organizations based in Thailand Military units and formations established in 1978 1978 establishments in Thailand