A 26-year-old Nigerian national, Anamere George, has been arrested by the Immigration Police after cocaine was seized at his home in Phuket, Thailand.
Pol Col Thanes Sukchai, the Phuket Immigration police chief, said Anamere was arrested at 1:30pm on Thursday, August 3, 2023, on the road to the Baan Suan Loch Palm housing estate in Kathu district after a car chase.
Phuket Provincial Police first received a report from Cherng Police at 1:15pm, reporting a man driving a grey Mazda 2 driving dangerously, hitting other cars as he made his way along the busy road past the Cherng Talay Police Station.
Similar reports soon followed from Phuket Immigration officers and Phuket Tourist Police officers.
The grey Mazda 2 was reported as heading towards Baan Pasak and Baan Don, in Moo 4, Thepkrasattri, and exiting at Khao Lan Intersection on Thepkrasattri Rd in Srisoonthorn.
The man then drove south to the Heroines Monument, turned left towards Pa Khlok, made a U-turn, and headed back to the Heroines Monument before heading towards Wat Tha Ruea.
The man then took the back roads through to Koh Kaew and made his way onto the road past the golf course towards Kathu.
Kathu Police set up a roadblock near the Loch Palm Golf Course, but as the man approached, he stopped and turned around, and sped off. Police gave chase.
Further up the road, the man had lost control of the car, which ended up wedged in a small roadside ditch.
The man in the car attempted to flee on foot, but police had him in custody some 300 metres later. He identified himself as Anamere George.
His passport had expired four years ago just before the Covid-19 pandemic.
A check of his criminal record found that he previously sold cocaine in Cherng Talay, Kamala, and Patong, police reported.
A search of Ananare’s residence in Moo 4, Bang Jo, Srisoonthorn, found at least eight small pouches of cocaine, police noted.
Officers also found many keys to other people’s residences.
Ananare was taken to Cherng Talay Police Station for questioning and to determine compensation for damage done to other people’s cars while he was fleeing police.
Police did not report whether Ananare was tested to determine whether he was under the influence of any substances at the time of his arrest.
Anamere was charged with overstaying his visa and illegal possession of drugs and would be deported after going through legal proceedings, Pol. Col Sukchai added.
Thanes said the crackdown on overstayers began last month and was continuing this month with support from tourist police.
