Region 2 Narcotic Suppression officers captured Michael “Mark” Ikenna, 36, and Nantana Chiewpanitch, 25, 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.

Police said the Nigerian claimed he was an exporter of dried dory fish to his home country. Police countered it was a shell company used to launder his drug money.

Nantana denied involvement with drug dealing, saying she has 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.