BANGKOK, THAILAND – Immigration police conducted an undercover operation that led to the arrest of a Nigerian man suspected of selling cocaine and Ecstasy in a popular tourist district.
Anonymous tip sparks investigation
An anonymous tip alerted Immigration Police Division 1 to an African man allegedly dealing drugs in Soi Inthamara 25 in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district. Officers checked the information and observed suspicious activity in the area.
“The information matched our observations,”
said Police Major General Panthana Nuchanart.
Drugs ordered via WhatsApp
An undercover officer then contacted the suspect through WhatsApp and ordered 40 Ecstasy tablets and 10 grams of cocaine. The Ecstasy was priced at 1,800 baht and the cocaine at 3,000 baht per gram, for a total value of 102,000 baht. The Nigerian man, identified as Ezidom Collins Chibuike, agreed and arranged delivery at a condominium on the same street.
Arrest during handover
Several police teams took up positions near the agreed meeting point before the handover. When the suspect arrived on time and attempted to deliver the drugs, officers moved in and arrested him without resistance. The seized substances – Ecstasy and cocaine – were confiscated, and during questioning he admitted the drugs belonged to him, stating he had bought them from another African man without giving a name.
Focus on foreign tourist clientele
According to police, the suspect had targeted foreign tourists in the lively neighborhood as his main customers. The Inthamara area has been known as an entertainment strip since the 1960s and attracts both locals and visitors. The case formed part of a citywide series of anti-drug raids in Bangkok’s entertainment zones that had been under way since October.
Network and immigration status under review
The arrested man was taken to Bang Sue Police Station, where he faced accusations of illegal sales of narcotics in categories 1 and 2. Investigators examined his digital communication data on WhatsApp to identify possible accomplices and the supply network. They also reviewed his entry history and immigration status, while announcing increased surveillance in other busy districts of Bangkok.
Police call for more public tips
Officers underlined the importance of cooperation from residents and business operators in crowded neighborhoods.
“Such tips are often the starting point for our investigations,”
said the police, urging people to continue reporting suspicious activities. The case illustrated that the Thai authorities were determined to act against drug-related crime in tourist areas.