A 46-year-old Nigerian, Nwaiwu Ifeanyi Placid, has been arrested by Thai authorities over his alleged involvement in a cocaine trafficking network operating within Bangkok’s nightlife districts.
The arrest, confirmed on Sunday, followed a coordinated operation by the Metropolitan Police Bureau targeting drug syndicates in the city.
Police authorities said the suspect was apprehended near Silom Soi 1, where about 27 grammes of cocaine were recovered from him.
During the operation, three other suspects, a Swiss national, Thomas Giubibini, and two Thai citizens, Thanayot Asawamethi, 35, and Nattawat Wangkitjinda, 34, were also taken into custody on drug possession allegations.
Law enforcement officials disclosed that items seized from the suspects included approximately 30 grammes of cocaine, a vehicle, cash amounting to 1.5 million baht, foreign currency valued at 15,000 baht, and jewellery estimated at 400,000 baht.
Investigators linked the latest arrests to earlier crackdowns on the same network.
Authorities recalled that on October 26 last year, operatives posing as construction workers dismantled a drug ring in the Nana area, leading to the arrest of nine Nigerian suspects.
A subsequent raid carried out on January 23 reportedly resulted in additional arrests and the seizure of assets exceeding 7 million baht.
Police further identified another Nigerian, known simply as Patrick, 47, as a major figure in the syndicate.
He was said to have resided in Thailand for over 17 years and allegedly ran a distribution network without intermediaries.
According to officials, investigators infiltrated communication channels used by the group and tracked movements of key members before effecting the arrests.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thamsuthee, stated that one of the suspects resisted arrest but was subdued by officers and later admitted to the allegations.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing, with all suspects currently in custody pending further action.