Three members of a Western African drug network have been arrested in connection with more than five kilos of cocaine being smuggled into the country from the US on March 6, the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) said on Monday.

The three suspects were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport on March 7 as they waited to pick up clothing racks imported from the US, which were found later to have 5.4 kilogrammes of cocaine inside them.

The ONCB said the suspects were members of a Western African drug gang involved in trafficking and other crimes on Soi Nana Road in Bangkok.

The arrests came after the ONCB started its drug suppression operation on Soi Nana a month ago.

An investigation revealed that the gang sold drugs in the entertainment venues on Soi Nana. The gang was also thought to be involved in other crimes including human trafficking.

The ONCB has confirmed the three foreign suspects have colluded with the Western African gang in bringing the drugs to Thailand since 2020. They are connected to at least four cases in which 12.7kg of cocaine and 6,613 ecstasy pills were trafficked, involving seven other foreigners and a Thai woman.