Police have arrested four suspects, including the alleged Nigerian kingpin, in a crackdown on a cocaine network operating in Bangkok’s nightlife districts.
Police said the arrests on Saturday dismantled a network led by Nwaiwu Ifeanyi Placid, 46, who is accused of supplying cocaine for sale in the capital. Officers arrested him near Silom Soi 1 after tracking his movements, and seized about 27 grammes of cocaine.
Three others were also detained on drug possession charges — a Swiss national and two Thai men.
Police seized about 30 grammes of cocaine in total, along with a car, 1.5 million baht cash, foreign currency worth 15,000 baht and jewellery valued at 400,000 baht.
Investigation identified a suspect known as “Patrick”, a 47-year-old Nigerian national, as a key figure in a Bangkok drug network. Police said he had lived in Thailand for at least 17 years, using a sham marriage as cover, and allegedly coordinated drug sales through encrypted chat groups.
Officers infiltrated the chat groups and tracked his movements before arresting him while he was delivering drugs to the three alleged associates, police said.
Police said the suspect resisted arrest and had to be restrained by several officers. He later allegedly confessed to the charges.
