Nigerian Arrested in Thailand for Cocaine Trafficking After ‘Juju’ That Made Him Invisible to Police Failed

A Nigerian national has been arrested in Koh Phangan, Thailand, on charges of cocaine trafficking and overstaying his visa by nearly nine years. The arrest occurred during a crackdown on foreigners engaged in illegal activities on the tourist island.

Kenneth Nnwanelobi, 47, was apprehended by personnel from Tourist Police Division 3 at a hotel in Moo 8 of tambon Koh Phangan on Saturday. According to the Bangkok Post, the operation was part of a broader effort to curb restricted jobs and illicit activities involving foreigners.

Tourist Police Inspector Pol Lt Col Winit Boonchit, who led the arrest, stated that Nnwanelobi was allegedly part of an organized drug syndicate run by Nigerians. “The Nigerian was standing in the hotel’s corridor when police asked to see his passport, but he tried to flee into his room. A subsequent search found two packets of cocaine weighing 31.5 grammes in the front-left pocket of his jeans,” said Col Winit.

Further investigation revealed that Nnwanelobi entered Thailand through the Padang Besar border checkpoint in Songkhla province on March 17, 2015, and was permitted to stay until October 1, 2015. He had overstayed his visa by 3,214 days.

Nnwanelobi’s role in the drug ring involved placing cocaine packets at specific locations and sending pickup information to customers. The police reported that Nnwanelobi claimed to possess a magical mantra that he believed rendered him invisible to law enforcement. “But this time I really didn’t see it (the arrest) coming,” the suspect said.

Despite his claims of magical protection, Nnwanelobi admitted that the seized cocaine was his and was intended for sale to foreign buyers.