In a Hollywood-style operation dubbed “Take Down Black-Shadow Nana,” Bangkok Metropolitan Police and 40 anti-narcotics officers disguised as construction workers and night revelers conducted a dramatic pre-dawn raid on Sunday, arresting eight foreign nationals and one Thai citizen for drug trafficking in the heart of the capital’s tourist district.

The operation was launched following reports on the tourist community page ThailandTourism warning that groups of African men in the Nana-Asoke area of Bangkok were selling drugs, engaging in fraud, and pickpocketing tourists.

Metropolitan Police, working with the Narcotics Suppression Bureau and Lumpini Police Station, launched surveillance operations and identified a group of men selling drugs to passing tourists while deliberately avoiding contact with Thais to prevent undercover police detection.

Sophisticated Technique Discovered

CCTV footage analysis revealed the suspects’ sophisticated operation: they would flee immediately upon spotting Thais or anyone resembling police. Their special technique involved concealing drugs in their mouths—when customers approached, they would spit the drugs out discreetly to complete transactions. If authorities appeared, they would swallow the drugs to destroy evidence.

Police meticulously planned the crackdown operation for the early morning of October 26. The 40-strong team included 20 officers dressed as construction workers who arrived in pickup trucks, parking near a construction site on Sukhumvit Soi 11 in Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana District—close to where the suspects congregated.

Dramatic Arrest Unfolds Like Action Movie Scene

The breakthrough came when two foreign nationals passed by and the drug dealers approached them. As suspects began spitting out drugs and exchanging items in plain sight, the undercover construction workers casually surrounded the group. When the team leader gave the order—”Take them”—officers swooped in. While some suspects attempted to flee and others swallowed the evidence, police successfully apprehended all nine individuals along with drug evidence.

The arrested include eight Nigerian nationals: Mr. Onyekama Frankline, 29; Mr. Onuoha Desmond, 34; Mr. Nnawuke Lucky, 29; Mr. Alahieobi Favour, 35; Mr. Ubammadu Chibuzor, 32; Mr. Amajioyi Chinaemeze, 23; Mr. Udemgba Innocent, 28; and Mr. Nwachukwu Chisom, 41. The ninth suspect is Thai national Phanuwat Thanawet, 36, from Udon Thani province. Evidence seized included 3,000 baht ($92) in cash and 3.8 grams of cocaine.

Police Major General Theeradet Thumsuthee, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau overseeing narcotics operations and head of the arrest team, explained that these Nigerian groups typically smuggle drugs into Thailand by swallowing them.

“They wrap drugs tightly in plastic, swallow large quantities before boarding flights to Thailand, then excrete them upon arrival for sale at tourist locations. Cocaine is the most common drug involved,” he said.

Suspects Given Milk to Recover Swallowed Evidence

“Once the drugs enter Thailand via air travel, they wrap them in tape and conceal them in their mouths. When arrested, they immediately swallow the drugs so officers find no evidence. In this case, we used undercover tactics to reach the suspects quickly, but several still managed to swallow the drugs in time. Our investigation team gave the suspects milk and monitored their bowel movements to recover evidence,” Maj. Gen. Theeradet added.

He noted that during the Nana operation, many foreign tourists expressed strong appreciation for the police action. “This drug-dealing group has caused significant distress to numerous tourists and severely damaged Thailand’s tourism image,” he said.

Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, has ordered continued crackdowns on such transnational crime throughout the metropolitan area.