This is the dramatic moment police disguised as builders arrested suspected drug dealers in Bangkok.

Officers wanted to avoid a repeat of previous crackdowns in which the cocaine pushers had swallowed the evidence as soon as they saw uniformed cops approaching them.

They hatched a plan to pose as Burmese construction workers being carried home in the back of truck - a common sight at all hours of the night in the Thai capital.

Several 'builders' in blue tops then stood on the pavement before suddenly turning around and catching the African suspects mid-way through an alleged deal. They were joined by more undercover officers who surrounded the criminals on the Sukhumvit Soi 11 nightlife strip.

Dramatic footage shows the suspected drug dealers scattering in different directions, with one even leaping over a motorcycle, as they tried to run away from officers.

Authorities from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau and Metropolitan Police Bureau said that eight Nigerians and a Thai man were arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning as part of what they called 'Operation Take Down Black-Shadow Nana'.

They were identified as Onyekamma Obioma Frankline, 29, Onuoha Ugochukwu Desmond, 34, Nnawuke Izuchukwu Lucky, 29, Alahieobi Chima Favour, 35, Ubammadu Emmanuel Chibuzor, 32, Amajioyi Chinaemeze, 23, Udemgba Jekwu Innocent, 28, Nwachukwu Chisom, 41, and Thai man, Phanuwat, 36.

Police seized from them 0.14 ounces (4 grams) of cocaine wrapped in black duct tape, and 11 mobile phones containing transaction information. They were waiting for the suspects to empty their bowels, believing they had swallowed more narcotics.

Officials said the raid, codenamed 'Operation Take Down Black-Shadow Nana', was carried out following reports of 'Africans' allegedly involved in illegal drugs, scams, and pickpocketing in the area.

Police Major General Theeradej Thamsuthee, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said: ‘The group of African men smuggled drugs into Thailand by swallowing them.

‘Large quantities of drugs, mostly cocaine, were packed tightly in plastic bags and swallowed before being taken to Thailand, where the suspects excreted and sold them at tourist destinations.

‘Further investigations revealed that the suspects used a special tactic of hiding drugs covered in duct tape inside their mouths.

‘When arrested, they would immediately swallow the drugs, preventing officers from recovering the items.

‘In this case, we caught them quickly, but many had already swallowed the substances. Investigators are giving them milk to aid excretion and allow us to recover more evidence.

‘During this arrest, many foreigners in the Nana district praised the officers, as the group had been causing significant problems for tourists, damaging Thailand's reputation as a tourist destination.'

The alleged smugglers were charged with 'possession and selling Category II narcotics leading to widespread distribution among the public'.

The bust came after seven tourists were arrested in a hidden drug den in the same district on October 15.

Police raided the Piklik Barber shop, where several Middle Eastern men were reportedly peddling narcotics.

Officials said the group were operating as a gang, and investigations were underway to find other members of the suspected drug syndicate.

Cocaine is classified as a 'Category II' narcotic in Thailand. Importers, producers, and exporters face jail sentences depending on the amount, with the most severe being life behind bars.