A Japanese man has been arrested in Bangkok on drug and weapons charges and three others are being held for trying to bribe police into releasing him, officials said on Saturday.
Yutaka Itakura, 34, was arrested in Bangkok on Friday with 2.3 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine or "ice" that he was attempting to sell to an undercover police officer. Police also found money worth more than $30,000 in his room.
Police said that Itakura unsuccessfully offered a bribe of 1.7 million baht for his release. Police also arrested three other Japanese men after they came to offer another 1 million baht in exchange for their compatriot's release.
Itakura has been charged with possessing illicit drugs with intent to sell them, selling illegal drugs, possessing an unregistered automatic gun, and offering a bribe to police. He could face the death penalty if found guilty of the drug-related charges.
Authorities said he was believed to have links with a Japanese gang that runs a drug business in Thailand and is also suspected of using Thai women to transport drugs abroad.
Thai police are now working with Japanese police to investigate how Itakura came to possess the drugs.