Suvarnabhumi Airport Customs Arrest Drug Trafficker from Nigeria

[webfact]

 

On Monday (March 25, 2024), Mr. Phantong Loikulnarn, advisor for development and tax management spokesperson for the Customs Department, revealed that in line with Prime Minister Settha Tawesin's directive to combat all aspects of drug abuse, including production, importation, exportation, transit, and clandestine distribution, all relevant agencies are coordinating efforts to eradicate drug trafficking from the country.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Customs Director-General Teerachai Atthawanit has instructed officials to intensify surveillance to prevent the smuggling of drugs through all channels, reported Siam Rath.

 

The Customs Department, along with the Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF), comprising the Narcotics Control Board, Narcotics Suppression Bureau, Security Preservation Center, and Thai Military Headquarters, is rigorously monitoring and cracking down on such activities.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Most recently, on March 23, 2024, investigators, along with customs officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport, intercepted a Nigerian male passenger arriving from Doha, Qatar. 

 

Suspecting illicit activities, they subjected him to inspection, revealing 69 cocaine pellets, a Type 2 drug (cocaine), concealed inside his body by ingestion, with a total weight of 1,390 grams and a value of 4,170,000 Baht. The apprehended suspect was processed and handed over to the police for further legal action.

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2024-03-26

 

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[flyingtlger]

Holy Cow! That's a lot of pellets he shat out 😶!

[Mika78]

On YouTube I like to watch episodes of Border Control in Australia, America, Canada and other countries. It would be interesting if they did it in Thailand too.... or rather not?

[tjintx]

Asked for comment, the suspect exclaimed "I could've had a V8!"

[Sigmund]

Well done. These are the tourists that they should screen more strictly. But considering the money involved, many escape the radar with a chunky bribe.

[webfact]

Nigerian man arrested for smuggling 1.4 kg of cocaine
by Petch Petpailin

 

Photo via Facebook/ กรมศุลกากร : The Customs Department

 

The Thai Customs Department arrested a Nigerian man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Saturday for smuggling 1.4 kilogrammes of cocaine into Thailand. The Nigerian swallowed 69 capsules of the drug.

 

Thai Customs yesterday, March 25, reported a significant development. Working alongside the Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) at Suvarnabhumi Airport, they identified a Nigerian man whose name appeared on both the arrival list and the roster of passengers deemed at risk of criminal activity.

 

Although the identity of the individual remains undisclosed, officials disclosed that he had arrived from Doha, the capital city of Qatar. Authorities closely monitored the man due to his suspicious behaviour, ultimately segregating him from other passengers for a thorough investigation.

They discovered about 1.4 kilogrammes of cocaine in the Nigerian man’s system. The drugs were packaged in 69 capsules, which the man swallowed. The drugs were worth over 4.1 million baht.

The foreign was transferred to the Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station for further legal proceedings. Thai Customs reported that the Nigerian man violated the Customs Act and Narcotics Act including:

Section 242, 244, and 252 of the Customs Act: importing or exporting prohibited goods, and these goods have not been passed through customs processes or without permission.

Section 52 and 142 of the Narcotics Act: producing, importing, or exporting drug under the Category 2.
The department also added that they had arrested 74 drug smugglers between October 1 of last year and March 25 of this year and seized drugs worth over 412 million baht.

 

Several raids on drug dealers and smugglers were reported this month. On March 4, Thai police arrested a British backpacker for selling ecstasy and LSD to foreign tourists on Koh Tao, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani.

 

Officers at Suvanrabhumi Airport previously reported the arrest of three foreign drug smugglers on March 11, and 5,360 grammes of cocaine was seized during the operation.

 

A British man was arrested in the northern province of Chiang Mai on March 13 for selling cocaine, ketamine, magic mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA to foreigners in the area. Another British drug dealer was apprehended in Phuket on March 3 for selling cocaine.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-03-26

 

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[n00dle]

Quote

69 cocaine pellets, a Type 2 drug (cocaine), concealed inside his body by ingestion, with a total weight of 1,390 grams and a value of 4,170,000 Baht.

 

That is a buttload of beak. I reckon if he didn't have that black rectangle obstructing his face he might have slipped in under the radar. 

 

It is however,  the first time i have ever seen the authorities come up with a low estimate on the value of the drugs they seize. 

Decent coke these days is 3500 a gram, and it can be assumed they smuggle it in pure(ish) and step on it. Thats a minimum of 4.8 million, likely close to twice that in real terms 
 

[1happykamper]

Desperate people have nothing to lose. But sadly he lost big time. 

[Andrew65]

Some years ago an official from the Nigerian Embassy stated that there were around 1,000 Nigerian nationals in prison in Thailand, the vast majority on drugs charges.

[brianthainess]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

with a total weight of 1,390 grams

That amount is not to be sniffed at.   

[newbee2022]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

 

On Monday (March 25, 2024), Mr. Phantong Loikulnarn, advisor for development and tax management spokesperson for the Customs Department, revealed that in line with Prime Minister Settha Tawesin's directive to combat all aspects of drug abuse, including production, importation, exportation, transit, and clandestine distribution, all relevant agencies are coordinating efforts to eradicate drug trafficking from the country.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Customs Director-General Teerachai Atthawanit has instructed officials to intensify surveillance to prevent the smuggling of drugs through all channels, reported Siam Rath.

 

The Customs Department, along with the Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF), comprising the Narcotics Control Board, Narcotics Suppression Bureau, Security Preservation Center, and Thai Military Headquarters, is rigorously monitoring and cracking down on such activities.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Most recently, on March 23, 2024, investigators, along with customs officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport, intercepted a Nigerian male passenger arriving from Doha, Qatar. 

 

Suspecting illicit activities, they subjected him to inspection, revealing 69 cocaine pellets, a Type 2 drug (cocaine), concealed inside his body by ingestion, with a total weight of 1,390 grams and a value of 4,170,000 Baht. The apprehended suspect was processed and handed over to the police for further legal action.

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2024-03-26

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email marketing[at]aseannow.com for more information

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

Thailand will take care of him for a long time.....as a wonderful host. He'll like it 🙏

[NicoBKK]

any Nigerian coming into TH should be xrayed at their expenses

[bbi1]

2 minutes ago, NicoBKK said:

any Nigerian coming into TH should be xrayed at their expenses

All the Nigerians on Sukhumvit in BKK are all drug dealers and/or scammers.

[Frankie baby]

Plenty more cueing up Lagos to try their luck. Desperate people try desperate things.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

On Monday (March 25, 2024), Mr. Phantong Loikulnarn, advisor for development and tax management spokesperson for the Customs Department, revealed that in line with Prime Minister Settha Tawesin's directive to combat all aspects of drug abuse, including production, importation, exportation, transit, and clandestine distribution, all relevant agencies are coordinating efforts to eradicate drug trafficking from the country.

 

I feel safer already.

[xylophone]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Suspecting illicit activities, they subjected him to inspection, revealing 69 cocaine pellets, a Type 2 drug (cocaine), concealed inside his body by ingestion, with a total weight of 1,390 grams and a value of 4,170,000 Baht. The apprehended suspect was processed and handed over to the police for further legal action.

Well, they don't come here to get a tan do they, and unless they are wealthy in their own right, which I suspect not, then they are here to deal in drugs and other things, whereby they can make some money!

[Jonathan Swift]

More anti foreigner persecution! Racism! Wahhhh. So where are all you whiners and complainers now? Did this shut you up? Nope. Because you can't fix stupid. Just remember this next time you want to trot out that "picking on foreigners" refrain. 

[Jonathan Swift]

3 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Well, they don't come here to get a tan do they, and unless they are wealthy in their own right, which I suspect not, then they are here to deal in drugs and other things, whereby they can make some money!

My gosh! Don't tell me you actually support all this "anti farang" persecution and prejudice? The double standard? [sarcasm not directed at you Mr. X] Well, these drugs can't come from inside Thailand can they? So to the Thai police - keep up the good work!

[Jonathan Swift]

Wonder how they found this? A butt sniffing drug dog?

[terryofcrete]

Is there a job title such as  Enema Drug Extraction Officer ? Someone has to do it ? 

[gerritkaew]

who would expect that huh,, normal all african people so reliable. 

[bananafish]

Surely it must be quite an ordeal to swallow and then walk around with that lot inside you. Though the exist stage is probably quite a thrill. 

[Sydebolle]

Well, he'll be booked for a while with a permanent address for the time being ......... meanwhile some other crooks tried to smuggle 128 buffaloes from Myawaddy to Mae Sot. 

The mind boggles, very active smuggling in and out 

[n00dle]

28 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

All the Nigerians on Sukhumvit in BKK are all drug dealers and/or scammers.

no. some are hookers

[Liverpool Lou]

15 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Wonder how they found this? A butt sniffing drug dog?

"...they identified a Nigerian man whose name appeared on both the arrival list and the roster of passengers deemed at risk of criminal activity.  Although the identity of the individual remains undisclosed, officials disclosed that he had arrived from Doha, the capital city of Qatar. Authorities closely monitored the man due to his suspicious behaviour..."

[transam]

From Nigeria, whodathought.............

[Peterphuket]

4 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

Well, he'll be booked for a while with a permanent address for the time being ......... meanwhile some other crooks tried to smuggle 128 buffaloes from Myawaddy to Mae Sot. 

The mind boggles, very active smuggling in and out 

It is to be hoped that he fills out his TM47 form on time, otherwise he will also be fined.

[transam]

20 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

More anti foreigner persecution! Racism! Wahhhh. So where are all you whiners and complainers now? Did this shut you up? Nope. Because you can't fix stupid. Just remember this next time you want to trot out that "picking on foreigners" refrain. 

Come again.................?

[Photoguy21]

57 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

Desperate people have nothing to lose. But sadly he lost big time. 

Who said he was desperate:?

[Scouse123]

He's brave carrying that lot through Doha as well.

 

Anyway, he won't be alone in the jail, he'll have plenty of fellow Nigerians to weight train with because that is what they do all day.