A Nigerian man, Nwaiwu Ifeanyi Placid, on Sunday, April 19, was arrested in Thailand in connection with a cocaine trafficking network operating in Bangkok’s nightlife districts.
Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Sayam Boonsom said officers arrested the 46-year-old Placid in an operation targeting the syndicate.
Police said he was tracked and arrested near Silom Soi 1, where about 27 grammes of cocaine were seized.
Three others were also arrested on drug possession charges, including Swiss national Thomas Giubibini and two Thai suspects, Thanayot Asawamethi, 35, and Nattawat Wangkitjinda, 34.
Authorities said total seizures included about 30 grammes of cocaine, a car, 1.5 million baht in cash equivalent to over N67 million, foreign currency worth 15,000 baht, and jewellery valued at 400,000 baht.
Police linked the arrests to earlier operations against the same network.
They said that on October 26, 2025, officers posing as construction workers dismantled a Nana-based network and arrested nine Nigerian suspects.
They also said a January 23 raid led to further arrests and the seizure of assets worth more than 7 million baht.
Investigators later identified another Nigerian suspect, known as Patrick, aged 47, as a key figure in the network.
Police said he had lived in Thailand for at least 17 years and operated a middleman-free drug network.
Officers said they infiltrated communication channels, stating they infiltrated the chat groups and tracked his movements before making arrests.
Deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thamsuthee said the suspect resisted arrest and was restrained by officers, adding that he later confessed, saying he confessed to the charges.
Police said investigations are ongoing and all suspects remain in custody.
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