A 29-year-old Nigerian, Onyenekwu Chukwuka Kingsley, and three Thai nationals have been arrested by the police in Bangkok with assets worth more than 16 million baht confiscated.

Bangkokpost reports that Tourism Police Bureau Deputy Commissioner, Surachate Hakparn on Wednesday said the arrest is the latest crackdown on a transnational crime network.

He said the raid on the house of one Thai suspect, a 28-year-old woman, Hathailak Sinthukut, led to the seizure of up to 11.6 million baht in assets without a regular job.

The assets which comprised two houses, gold items, land title deeds and three cars were all seized as well as over 2,000 ecstasy pills, 300 grammes of crystal methamphetamine and 20 packs of marijuana.

He said the three other suspects worked for the Nigerian who received drugs from a major supplier in another country for distribution.

Pol Maj Gen Surachate said Kingsley was arrested on Sunday at a Big C hypermarket in the Rat Burana area, a day after the arrest of Ms Hathailak and another female suspect, Sirinda Khamprathueang, 20, in Nonthaburi.

According to Pol Maj Gen Surachate, the seized item is A-grade marijuana imported from overseas, adding that investigation had revealed that the drugs were sold to customers in Bangkok and in Pattaya.

He said Ms Hathailak’s bank accounts are being examined to track money trails and transactions, with the hope of getting new clues to arrest more suspects.  He said investigators, however, suspect that parts of the gang’s assets may have been laundered to avoid detection.

Pol Maj Gen Surachate further revealed plans to asks officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Office to conduct a joint investigation into the matter.

Pol Col Sombun Thiankhao, of the city’s Patrol and Special Operation Division said,

“The two women were arrested in a sting operation in which they were lured into selling 50 methamphetamine pills to a police informant. The operation followed the arrest of another Thai suspect Sutthiman Samankaeo. The 29-year-old was arrested at Metro Park in the Phasicharoen area last Friday. All four suspects admitted to selling drugs for more than two years.

Mr Kingsley gave the drugs to Ms Hathailak in Samut Prakan. Ms Hathailak then hired Ms Sirinda to deliver the drugs to customers. She received 9,000 baht for each delivery. Their customers were well-to-do people who bought ecstasy pills, also known as yae, and crystal methamphetamine, or ya ice, at night entertainment venues.”