The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed how an alleged cocaine cartel used the glamorous public image of a luxury goods dealer and social media influencer to conceal a multimillion-naira international drug trafficking operation.
The agency identified the suspect as Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as “KC Luxury,” whom it described as the alleged Nigerian arrowhead of the cartel.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos while giving details of an investigation that led to the seizure of 184.5kg of cocaine worth an estimated N39 billion.
According to Marwa, Afolabi presented himself publicly as a businessman involved in gold, jewellery and other luxury goods while allegedly coordinating a cocaine trafficking network stretching from South America through Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
The agency said his arrest followed intelligence that he planned to leave Nigeria for Paris on a business-class flight.
NDLEA operatives reportedly intercepted him at the boarding gate of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on August 13.
Marwa said the suspect was carrying €7,750, £2,800 and N100,000 in cash, alongside expensive jewellery, when he was arrested.
A search of his luxury apartment on Banana Island, Lagos, subsequently led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, according to the agency.
The NDLEA chairman said the investigation began after operatives intercepted 184.5kg of cocaine concealed in a consignment being processed through a courier company in Lagos.
The seizure prompted a wider investigation into the individuals and companies allegedly connected to the shipment.
The agency subsequently arrested Lawal Mujab Kehinde, a staff member of the logistics company, who was allegedly involved in packaging and processing consignments for the cartel.
Marwa said the investigation exposed the alleged use of intermediary companies, false identities and financial facilitators to conceal the network’s activities.
He also disclosed that some members of the syndicate linked to the Nigerian operation had been arrested in the United Kingdom.
Describing the arrest of Afolabi as a major breakthrough, Marwa warned individuals who use wealth, luxury lifestyles and social media influence to conceal criminal activities that the agency would continue to track them.
“To those who believe they can hide behind luxury brands, glamorous lifestyles, and social media personas while trafficking poison into our communities and across our borders, this Agency will find you,” he said.
Marwa said the operation demonstrated that the NDLEA was capable of penetrating sophisticated drug networks regardless of the suspects’ social status or public profile.
He assured Nigerians that the agency would intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks involved in trafficking narcotics into and through Nigeria.
