By Oluwakemi Kindness
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an alleged Nigerian arrowhead of an international cocaine cartel and seized a 184.5kg cocaine consignment worth an estimated N39 billion.
The suspect, Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as “KC Luxury”, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while allegedly attempting to flee to Paris.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Lagos.
Marwa said the operation began after NDLEA intercepted the cocaine shipment concealed for export through a courier logistics company in Lagos.
He described it as the largest cocaine seizure recorded through a courier company in Nigeria.
The seizure prompted Marwa to set up a Special Investigation Team to trace the couriers, intermediaries and masterminds behind the shipment.
The investigation led to the arrest of Lawal Mujab Kehinde, a staff member of the logistics company that processed the consignment.
NDLEA said Kehinde maintained a direct relationship with the cartel and allegedly packaged and processed shipments for the syndicate.
Investigators also identified Michael, known online as “KC Luxury”, as the cartel’s alleged Nigerian coordinator.
The agency said Michael presented himself as a luxury goods dealer and social media influencer dealing in gold, jewellery and other luxury items.
Marwa said operatives arrested him on August 13 after receiving intelligence that he planned to leave Nigeria on a business-class flight to Paris.
They apprehended him at the boarding gate before he could leave the country.
NDLEA said officers recovered €7,750, £2,800 and N100,000 in cash, as well as expensive jewellery, from him.
A search of his luxury apartment in Banana Island, Lagos, also led to the recovery of exotic vehicles.
Marwa said investigators found that the cartel used false identities and intermediary companies to conceal the true consignors of its shipments.
The syndicate also allegedly used financial facilitators to move billions of naira and maintained criminal contacts in the United Kingdom.
Marwa said British authorities have arrested some members of the same syndicate.
According to him, the cartel moved cocaine from South America through Nigeria to the UK, other European countries and Asia.
He said drug trafficking organisations were increasingly shifting from seaports and airports to courier and logistics companies.
Marwa said traffickers wrongly viewed courier channels as less monitored routes for moving narcotics across borders.
He said the latest operation showed that NDLEA could track traffickers regardless of where they operated.
Marwa also linked the operation to the agency’s recent dismantling of other international drug networks.
These include the Switzerland-based Simon Amadi cartel and two Nigerian-Mexican methamphetamine syndicates.
He warned drug traffickers against hiding behind luxury lifestyles, social media personas and legitimate businesses.
Marwa reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to preventing Nigeria from becoming a transit route for illicit drugs.
