Man arrested in Thailand over complex drug supply investigation

A man has been arrested in Thailand in connection with a years-long Essex Police investigation into the wholesale supply of cocaine across the Southeast of England.

Our Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has been carrying out enquiries into a suspected drug supply network, focusing on the sale of large quantities of Class A and B substances.

The investigation focused specifically on supply activity between July 2021 and May 2022.

As a result of this ongoing work, in partnership with the National Crime Agency, Royal Thai Police and Central Investigations Bureau, a significant arrest was made in the Phuket Province of Thailand on Sunday 1 September.

The 28-year-old man, from Wickford, was taken into custody and will now face extradition proceedings with the collaboration of the Thai Office of the Attorney General.

Working with partners abroad

Detective Inspector Yoni Adler, of SOCU, said:

“We have been working closely with National Crime Agency partners and thank the Thai law enforcement agencies who made a key arrest in this case.
“It is a result of good partnership working between multiple agencies and lengthy intelligence gathering.
“My team is focused on dismantling and disrupting the organised criminal networks which lie behind and fuel the harmful trade in drugs across Essex.”

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