Thai police bust transnational cocaine ring on Koh Phangan

2026-01-29 - 03:51

KOH PHANGAN — 28 January 2026, Thai tourist police announced the arrest of three suspects in a major transnational drug trafficking case on Koh Phangan, including a Canadian man, a Nigerian man and a Thai woman, with cocaine and drug paraphernalia seized. Police on Koh Phangan in Surat Thani province said they worked with related agencies to dismantle the network following patrols in Ban Tai subdistrict. Officers stopped a foreign man behaving suspiciously while riding a motorcycle and identified him as Kanan Abdulsalam, 40, a Canadian national. A search found two packets of cocaine hidden inside stainless steel containers concealed in his sleeve, police said. Checks of his mobile phone revealed chat messages arranging drug deals via a messaging application. Officers then searched his accommodation, where they found equipment used for consuming crystal methamphetamine and a digital scale. Kanan confessed that he had purchased the drugs from a Nigerian man and a Thai woman for resale, police said. Authorities then set up a controlled buy. A white sedan arrived at the meeting point, where officers arrested two more suspects: John Chukwudi Ukadike, 43, a Nigerian national, and his Thai wife, identified as Mintra, whose surname was withheld. A search of the car uncovered cocaine wrapped in black tape hidden under the driver’s side floor mat, along with multiple items linked to drug distribution, police said. Kanan was charged with possession of cocaine for sale, cocaine use and driving under the influence of drugs. John and Mintra were charged with jointly selling cocaine for commercial purposes, while John also faces a drug use charge. All three suspects and the seized evidence were taken to Koh Phangan police station for further legal proceedings, as authorities continue to expand the investigation into related networks.