Gang sold cocaine delivered in bread buns

A complaint about spoiled buns covered with ants outside a Bangkok condominium room led to police seizing cocaine worth about 2 million baht from a gang that hid it inside baked goods for delivery.

Three women were arrested. They allegedly worked for a drug network run by a Nigerian living outside Thailand.

Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, released the details on Monday.

The arrests followed reports that a group of people at a condo the On Nut area of Suan Luang district frequently ordered large quantities of buns and left them outside their room, where they became infested with ants, he said.

The bust began at the condominium, where police seized about 650 grammes of cocaine in 400 packets, worth approximately 2 million baht.

The first suspect, identified only as Chanyanut, 29, was arrested at the condominium. Police later arrested Jariyawadee, 25, in the Ramkhamhaeng area of Suan Luang district, and Narissara, 43, in Watthana district.

Pol Lt Gen Siam said investigators reported that gang members worked 15-day shifts, stuffing cocaine inside buns and handing the packages to delivery riders about 20 times a day.

Police also seized paper and plastic packaging, unused buns, scales and about 100,000 baht in cash.

Pol Lt Gen Siam said the gang sold cocaine in three grades: compressed cocaine tablets, pure cocaine powder and powder mixed with 15% chalk.

Ms Chanyanut allegedly admitted that she had been selling cocaine this way for two years without drawing police attention.

She told police the ringleader was a Nigerian living outside Thailand, and that each gang member was paid 30,000 baht per 15-day shift shift, Pol Lt Gen Siam said.