Foreign Nationals Held in Bangkok Cocaine Network Crackdown

Foreign Nationals Held in Bangkok Cocaine Network Crackdown

BANGKOK, April 20, 2026 — Thai police have arrested four suspects, including Nigerian and Swiss nationals, in coordinated raids targeting a cocaine trafficking network operating in Bangkok and neighbouring Nonthaburi province, authorities said.

The operation followed a months-long investigation that grew out of earlier narcotics cases from last year and continued into 2026.

Police identified the alleged key suspect as Patric, a 47-year-old Nigerian national, who was arrested late Saturday in Bangkok. He faces multiple charges related to the sale and distribution of cocaine without permission.

A second foreign suspect, Thomas, a 60-year-old Swiss national, was detained outside a shop in Nonthaburi with a small quantity of cocaine, investigators said.

Two Thai nationals were also arrested on Rama III Road in Bangkok and charged with jointly possessing narcotics.

Authorities said officers seized around 30 grammes of cocaine, a vehicle, approximately 1.5 million baht ($40,000) in cash, foreign currency and other assets worth more than 400,000 baht.

Police said further asset tracing was under way to identify proceeds linked to the wider network.

Thailand remains a regional transit and destination point for international narcotics syndicates, prompting intensified enforcement against foreign-linked trafficking groups operating in urban centres.

Officials said investigations were continuing and additional arrests could follow.