Thai police arrest Nigerian drug kingpin

Thai authorities have apprehended a suspected Nigerian drug kingpin, identified as 36-year-old Ikenna Azubuike, in Bangkok. The arrest occurred during a late-night operation aimed at dismantling a significant cocaine trafficking network operating in Southeast Asia.

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The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Ikenna Azubuike, was apprehended on Tuesday outside a luxury condominium on Rama III Road in Bangkok’s Yannawa district during an operation code-named “Clipping the Wings of the Dodorima Boss,” according to Bangkok Post.

The operation, dubbed "Clipping the Wings of the Dodorima Boss," was the culmination of weeks of investigation by Thailand's Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board. Azubuike is accused of leading a transnational criminal network involved in cocaine trafficking and related financial crimes. He faces charges including unauthorized possession and sale of cocaine, as well as resisting arrest. Investigators are also considering additional money-laundering charges.

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Authorities charged Azubuike with allegedly possessing and selling cocaine, classified as a Category 2 narcotic under Thai law, without authorisation, and with resisting arrest.

During the arrest, police seized cocaine, cash, bank funds, a vehicle, and other assets valued at more than 700,000 baht (approximately N29 million). The investigation reportedly originated from a previous raid on a luxury condominium where six foreign nationals were arrested in connection with an alleged romance scam. Evidence recovered from that operation revealed links to a broader cocaine trafficking network, with an estimated 300 million baht circulating through its activities.

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Police said the arrest led to the seizure of cocaine, cash, bank funds, a vehicle and other assets valued at more than 700,000 baht, estimated at about N29m.

Authorities described Azubuike as the alleged leader of a group known as Dodorima, an African-linked criminal network. Investigators believe he had been living in Thailand for over seven years, frequently traveling between Thailand and Africa. He is alleged to have progressed from street-level drug distribution to becoming a key figure in the network, with over 380 million baht reportedly passing through accounts linked to the organization in the past year. Intelligence suggests some proceeds may have financed a mansion in Nigeria.

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Investigators identified Azubuike as the alleged leader of a group known as Dodorima, which authorities described as an African-linked criminal network operating in Thailand.