Nigerian Man Arrested in Bangkok Nightclub Drug Raid
Thai authorities raided a nightclub in Bangkok’s Ratchaprarop area early on Saturday, October 18, arresting a Nigerian man on drug-dealing charges. During the operation, 22 partygoers tested positive for drugs, highlighting the venue’s role as a hotspot for illegal narcotics activity.
At approximately 5am, officials from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and the Insee 19-69 unit entered the club in the Ratchathewi district. The raid was conducted after multiple complaints via the 1386 hotline, alleging that the club operated beyond legal hours and served as a hub for drug sales. Reports claimed the venue stayed open until 7am daily, hosting late-night parties where foreign mafia groups allegedly distributed cocaine and crystal meth to Thai and foreign customers.
Authorities spent more than two months investigating the allegations. They found that a Nigerian man and his Thai wife were allegedly the main suppliers of cocaine and crystal meth, selling to tourists inside the club. Investigators gathered sufficient evidence to secure court-issued arrest warrants for both suspects.
During the raid, officers discovered a large number of Thai and foreign partygoers. Drug tests were conducted on 127 individuals, with 22 people testing positive—split evenly between 11 Thais and 11 foreigners. The Nigerian suspect was arrested on the spot with 12 grammes of cocaine in his possession.
Two Thai nightclub employees were also detained after being found with two bags of crystal meth (about 2 grammes) and one bag of cocaine.
The Nigerian suspect’s Thai wife was not present during the raid, and police have not yet released details on efforts to locate her. Authorities have vowed to intensify crackdowns on venues that operate as drug distribution hubs, particularly those catering to both local and foreign clientele in central Bangkok.
