Authorities in Thailand recently uncovered a significant drug smuggling operation involving cocaine worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The illicit substance was allegedly smuggled into the country from the United States concealed within clothing racks, as reported by local media sources.
According to Police Lt. Gen. Phanurat Lakboon, the secretary general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board in Bangkok, three Nigerian men were apprehended after officials seized 5,360 grams of cocaine from a flight that had originated in the U.S. and landed in Bangkok. The estimated value of the cocaine is approximately 16 million Thai baht, equivalent to around $450,000.
The interception took place at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on March 7, initiated by the Customs Department’s Airport Interdiction Task Force. The suspects, awaiting the arrival of the clothing racks containing the concealed drugs, were taken into custody upon the shipment's arrival in Thailand.
Reports indicate that the arrested individuals are part of a criminal group involved in drug trafficking and potentially human trafficking activities along Soi Nana Road in Bangkok. Authorities have intensified efforts to combat illegal operations in the area, with a particular focus on cracking down on drug-related offenses.
The cocaine hidden within the metal pipes of the clothing racks was allegedly intended for distribution in local nightclubs, targeting both residents and tourists. The suspects, whose identities have not been disclosed, are currently in police custody and are believed to be connected to multiple other cases involving illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy pills. It is reported that the individuals have collaborated with a Western African gang since 2020 to smuggle narcotics into Thailand.
