Nnwanelobi’s role in the gang was placing cocaine packets at places and sending pickup locations to customers.

ANigerian national has been arrested in Koh Phangan district, Thailand for cocaine possession and overstaying for nearly nine years

It was gathered that personnel from Tourist Police Division 3 apprehended Kenneth Nnwanelobi, 47, at a hotel in Moo 8 of tambon Koh Phangan on Saturday.

The Bangkok Post reports that the arrest was part of a crackdown on foreigners engaging in restricted jobs and illegal activities on the tourist island

In a statement, Tourist Police Inspector Pol Lt Col Winit Boonchit, who led the team, said Mr Nnwanelobi was allegedly part of an organised drug syndicate led 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,” he said.

“A further probe found he entered Thailand through the Padang Besar border checkpoint in Songkhla province on March 17, 2015 and was allowed to stay until October 1, 2015. He overstayed for 3,214 days,” Col Winit said.

Mr Nnwanelobi’s role in the gang was placing cocaine packets at places and sending pickup locations to customers.

According to the police, the suspect claimed he had a magical mantra and would recite it to make him invincible to police before leaving a hotel to hide the drug.

“But this time I really didn’t see it (the arrest) coming,” the suspect said.

The suspect, however, admitted that the seized cocaine belonged to him and it was for sale to foreign buyers