A squad of Thai police went undercover in drag to arrest a suspected methamphetamine smuggler.

Five burly male officers and one woman dressed as a female dance troupe to approach their target during a street dance festival in the province of Lopburi, approximately 90 miles north of Bangkok.

Police caught the suspect, Mekha Fa-wap-wap, with more than 53 pills of methamphetamine and 200 plastic bags allegedly used to store and sell drugs.

A mobile phone used for running an illicit gambling operation was also found.

Mr Fa-wap-wap was subsequently charged with possessing category one narcotics for sale and operating an illegal online slot machine.

Led by Panthep Panadi, a police colonel, the officers, still in their brightly coloured, sequinned dresses, stood and posed for photographs behind a handcuffed Mr Fa-wap-wap at the station in the district of Tha Luang.

The officers struggled to contain their smirks as they posed for the camera.

Authorities shared a photograph online of the arrest’s aftermath on Friday, with the caption: “We didn’t want to go out and arrest him, it’s a waste of costume rental.”

Thai officers are known for using unconventional disguises to arrest suspects.

In February, police disguised themselves in dragon costumes to arrest a thief suspected of stealing Buddhist artefacts.

Officers hid inside the red costume during Bangkok’s lunar new year festivities to follow the suspect after responding to reports of a burglary in the city’s suburbs.

Video footage showed one police officer bursting out of the costume’s head and, with his colleagues’ assistance, tackling the man to the floor before arresting him.

The 33-year-old suspect was accused of stealing several valuable Buddhist items, including two 12-inch Buddha statues, from a senior officer’s home after a break-in.

Police estimated the value of the stolen items at about two million baht (£47,500).