Thai Tourist Police have arrested a Nigerian national, Samuel Egbujonuma Silas, during an alleged undercover cocaine operation in the country’s popular tourist city of Phuket.
The arrest was said to be part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown targeting foreigners suspected of engaging in criminal activities in Thailand.
According to reports, Silas was apprehended in front of a clothing store in Patong, a major tourist destination in Phuket, where authorities allegedly recovered 10 grams of cocaine.
Investigators reportedly deployed undercover operatives to infiltrate groups of foreign nationals suspected to be involved in drug trafficking activities, leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect.
Images circulating online showed the Nigerian in handcuffs while security operatives searched his apartment during the operation.
Authorities were also said to have discovered during investigations that Silas had overstayed his visa by more than 18 months.
In another related operation in Phuket, Thai police reportedly arrested a Belgian national, Bruno Trunfio, and allegedly recovered 2.9 grams of cocaine from him.
Police investigations further revealed that the Belgian suspect had allegedly remained in Thailand illegally for more than two years after his visa expired.
Both suspects were later transferred to the Patong Police Station, where they were charged with allegedly selling Category 2 narcotics without authorisation and overstaying their visas.
The latest arrest comes days after reports emerged that another Nigerian, identified as Louis Junio, was arrested in Thailand over an alleged attempt to sell cocaine to undercover police officers.
Last week, three other Nigerians — Miracle Qluebube Duruawuzie, John Bosco Chukwukadibia and Chibueze Solomon Ozoma — were also reportedly apprehended over alleged involvement in a money laundering operation in the Southeast Asian country.
Similarly, a 47-year-old Nigerian identified simply as Patrick was recently arrested in Thailand over alleged long-running cocaine smuggling activities.
