A Nigerian national, suspected of being a key player in the cocaine trade on Thailand’s Koh Phangan island, was arrested on March 1, 2025, near the Pantip Plaza market.
Tourist police launched an undercover operation after receiving intelligence about a Black foreign national selling drugs to tourists. Their investigation led them to 37-year-old Ugonna J. (surname withheld).
Using WhatsApp, undercover officers posed as buyers and arranged a meeting at Pantip Plaza. Ugonna arrived at the location and handed over the illicit substance. Once police confirmed it was cocaine, they immediately arrested him.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 25.71 grams of cocaine, valued at 240,000 baht ($7,000). Authorities also confiscated a black Mazda 2 and two mobile phones, which may contain crucial evidence regarding his drug network.
Investigations revealed that Ugonna was allegedly a major cocaine supplier on Koh Phangan, with his distribution network extending to Phuket and Krabi, two other popular tourist destinations. He reportedly sold cocaine in one-gram packages for 6,000 baht ($175) each, adding extra fees for deliveries to other provinces.
To avoid detection, he refrained from using postal services and instead relied on couriers to transport the drugs, a method considered more expensive but safer from law enforcement scrutiny.
Authorities hailed the arrest as a significant breakthrough in their ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in Thailand’s tourist hubs. The case highlights the modern tactics—such as undercover operations and digital communication monitoring—that police are now employing to tackle drug-related crimes.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to dismantle the drug network and apprehend all those involved.