Thailand’s immigration authorities have arrested three Nigerian nationals during a crackdown on undocumented immigrants in the Southeast Asian country, seizing 103 grammes of cocaine.
Reports noted that the arrests followed a joint operation between the Immigration Bureau and the anti-narcotics police on Friday after receiving information about a man suspected to be selling drugs to foreigners in Bangkok.
It was gathered that a 42-year-old man identified simply as Mr F by officials was the subject of the first arrest after an undercover police officer reportedly bought cocaine from him.
News outlet Thaiger reported that Mr F had arrived at the exchange zone in a car around 7:00 p.m. on Friday and gave four small packages wrapped in black plastic, containing approximately 2.4 grammes of cocaine to the undercover officer.
He was subsequently arrested by law enforcement, with the police later discovering the money the undercover cop used to purchase the cocaine in his possession and allegedly confessed that the cash was a proceeds of drug sales.
During interrogation, Mr F reportedly told police that he had obtained the cocaine from another Nigerian man identified as only Mr D, prompting officers to devise a plan to arrest him.
Mr D, 43, was apprehended in a nearby building after police spotted him inside an apartment. Officers then asked him to present his passport and documents authorising his legal stay in Thailand, but he failed to produce them.
It was gathered that the police went ahead to search his apartment, where they found 101 grammes of cocaine, numerous plastic bags used for packaging the drug and a digital weighing scale.
Blackboard chalk and baking soda were also found in the apartment, with reports stating that he admitted to mixing them with cocaine to increase its volume and maximise profits from its sale.
Officials estimated that the cocaine seized from Mr D was worth N16 million in street value, while alleging that he might have about close to N80 million from dealing in drugs.
Mr F was charged with selling a Category 2 narcotic without permission for commercial distribution, while Mr D was charged with illegally possessing cocaine for sale and entering and staying in Thailand without permission.
Meanwhile, the third Nigerian arrested was identified as 21-year-old Mr C by Thai authorities but was apparently not connected with the cocaine case.
Mr C was reportedly arrested during immigration checks when he was exposed to having been staying in Thailand illegally. He faces an immigration overstay charge.
Recall that the Peoples Gazette reported last week that two Nigerian men whose identities have yet to be disclosed were arrested by immigration authorities in Thailand after they were allegedly found in possession of about six grammes of cocaine.
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