Thailand authorities have held a Nigerian, Michael “Mark” Ikenna and his Thai girlfriend for dealing in narcotics.
Regional narcotics police arrested Ikenna, 36, and Nantana Chiewpanitch, 25, for allegedly dealing in cocaine across the country.
Region 2 Narcotic Suppression officers captured Michael “Mark” Ikenna and Chiewpanitch in a sting operation conducted by undercover police who arranged to purchase 10 grams of cocaine in Takhiantia March 26. Officers seized 9.8 g. of white powder from him.
Investigators then searched their apartment in Bangkok where they recovered nearly a gram of cocaine and hundreds of plastic bags police said were used to package drugs for sale in Bangkok, the East and Central regions.
According to the police, Ikenna claimed he was an exporter of dried dory fish to his home country. Police described this as false, stating that it was a shell company used to launder his drug money.
Nantana denied involvement with drug dealing, saying she had only known Ikenna for a few months and worked in a call center in Bangkok.
Police seized more than half a million baht in property from Ikenna, including his Toyota Altis and two mobile phones.
Dealing in cocaine attracts from 20 years to life imprisonment in Thailand. Occasionally, death sentence is also applied at the discretion of the court.
