Bangkok’s bustling tourist district turned into a crime scene early Sunday as police arrested eight Nigerian nationals and a Thai accomplice in a sweeping operation against a suspected drug syndicate.
The coordinated pre-dawn raid, executed by more than 40 anti-narcotics officers, targeted the notorious Sukhumvit Soi 11 area, a popular nightlife spot frequented by foreigners.
Officers reportedly disguised themselves as construction workers and late-night partygoers to blend into the crowd before moving in on the suspects.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the operation was the culmination of weeks of surveillance and online tips from residents and tourists who complained of “foreign men selling drugs and scamming visitors” in the Nana-Asoke corridor.
Investigators discovered that the suspects, believed to be part of a larger transnational cartel, used unusual tactics to avoid detection.
Police sources revealed on Tuesday that the traffickers hid small packets of cocaine inside their mouths, discreetly spitting them out during transactions.
In moments of panic, they would swallow the drugs to eliminate evidence.
“These individuals were clever in their methods but not invisible,” said Police Major General Theeradet Thumsuthee, who led the operation.
“They deliberately avoided local Thais to make it harder for us to infiltrate their network, but patient surveillance paid off.”
Authorities said the sting was launched after careful analysis of CCTV footage around Khlong Toei Nuea in the Watthana District.
The nine suspects were swiftly rounded up, with police recovering 3.8 grams of cocaine and about 3,000 baht (roughly $92) in cash.
Those detained include eight Nigerian men identified as Onyekama Frankline (29), Onuoha Desmond (34), Nnawuke Lucky (29), Alahieobi Favour (35), Ubammadu Chibuzor (32), Amajioyi Chinaemeze (23), Udemgba Innocent (28), and Nwachukwu Chisom (41).
The lone Thai suspect, 36-year-old Phanuwat Thanawet from Udon Thani Province, is believed to have acted as a local liaison for the group.
Major General Thumsuthee explained that such syndicates typically smuggle cocaine into Thailand through “internal concealment”, wrapping drugs in plastic and swallowing them before flying into the country.
“Once they arrive, the drugs are excreted, repackaged, and distributed at nightlife spots popular among tourists,” he added.
Police have launched a broader investigation to determine whether the arrested suspects are connected to international drug networks operating across Southeast Asia.
“The arrests mark a significant breakthrough,” said a senior police officer familiar with the case.
“But this is just one branch of a much larger tree. We’re now tracing the money trail and the suppliers feeding this network.”
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to cracking down on foreign drug operations in Bangkok’s entertainment hubs, warning that “no corner of the city will be safe for criminals.”