The Thailand police have arrested two Nigerian drug dealers recruiting Thai women into transnational drug trafficking.
The development follows an earlier arrest of a Nigerian drug kingpin, Ikenna Patrick Azubuike.
The arrest was carried out on Sunday by the Crime Suppression Division, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, and the Nong Khai Immigration police, Thaiexaminer, a local newspaper, reported.
The two Nigerians linked to the cross-border crime of luring Thai women into drug trafficking through social media were identified as Emeka and Anayo.
“Police first arrested Mr Emeka at the Motorway 9 toll booth on Kanchanaphisek Road in Thepharak subdistrict, Mueang district, Samut Prakan province,” the report said.
It added, “Separately, officers arrested Mr Anayo beside Soi Ramkhamhaeng 24 in Hua Mak subdistrict, Bang Kapi district of Bangkok. At the same time, police entered a hotel in the Ramkhamhaeng area and arrested Ms Lalita, a Thai lady who helps the drug gang traffic drugs to other neighbouring countries.”
The arrest led to the seizure of heroin and cocaine worth over ฿25 million from the trio.
According to the police, Messrs Emeka and Anayo recruited Thai women through Facebook, first luring them into relationships. After establishing a romantic relationship with them, they engaged them in distributing drugs to neighbouring countries.
Police investigation showed that their agent, Ms Lalita, who entered the deal with the drug traffickers, had received between ฿40,000 and ฿50,000 for each successful journey.
The police said Ms Lalita “admitted to completing three drug smuggling operations. However, her latest mission ended with her capture by the police.”
The Peoples Gazette had reported on Saturday the arrest of Mr Azubuike, head of a Nigerian drug trafficking network called Dodorima.
Mr Azubuike’s arrest comes barely a month after Thai police arrested six Nigerians over a romance scam in the Southeast Asian country.