Police have arrested a suspected drug dealer who underwent extensive plastic surgery to make himself look Korean and evaded capture for three months.

Saharat Sawangjaeng, 25, who these days styles himself as a South Korean national named Jimin Seong, was arrested on Thursday at a condominium in Bang Na district of Bangkok, police said.

Police were able to find Mr Saharat by analysing the distribution of MDMA, known on the street as ecstasy, to other sellers as well as buyers in Bangkok. The narcotics were traced back to a man described by witnesses as an “attractive South Korean man”.

Mr Saharat confessed to ordering MDMA over the dark web and using cryptocurrency for payment, police said on Friday.

When the suspect was first detained on an assault charge, officers found 2 kilogrammes of narcotics in liquid form and 290 MDMA pills in his possession. But he was able to escape detention at the time and underwent extensive surgery to significantly change his appearance.

The suspect told police that he intended to restart his life in South Korea but admitted he couldn't speak the language.