Cocaine blues: Phuket tourist busted with over 20g of “paradise white’

PHUKET: A Phuket sting operation netted two tourists in possession of more than 21 grams of cocaine last night.

“An undercover officer met with the 46-year-old suspect, Nigerian tourist Colins Ifeanyi Ugwoeruchkwu, to buy drugs in Patong,” said Tourist Police Division 5 Superintendent Jirapop Phuridet.

“When Mr Ugwoeruchkwu arrived on Soi Nanai 2, off Nanai Road, we searched him.”

Officers found two separate bags of cocaine on him: one with 0.65 grams and one with 0.70 grams.

Police accompanied Mr Ugwoeruchkwu back to his rental room at Happy Guesthouse, where they found Syrian tourist Hassan Kamara, 39.

“We found more than 20 grams of cocaine, separated into two bags. We believe the men were selling drugs to other tourists,” Col Jirapop said.

Both Mr Ugwoeruchkwu and Mr Kamara were charged with possession of a Category 2 Drug with intent to sell.

“Mr Ugwoeruchkwu confessed to the charges, but Mr Kamara denied them,” said Col Jirapop.

— Kritsada Muanhawong