The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled an international cocaine trafficking cartel that allegedly used Nigeria as a transit hub for moving illicit drugs to the United Kingdom and parts of Europe and Asia.
The operation led to the arrest of the Nigerian arrowhead of the syndicate, Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known online as “KC Luxury,” as he attempted to flee the country.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd.), disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists in Lagos.
He described the operation as one of the most significant narcotics investigations undertaken by the agency in recent times.
Marwa said the investigation followed the interception of 184.50 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in a consignment being processed through a courier logistics company in Lagos.
The cocaine, he said, was destined for the United Kingdom and could have fetched the cartel about 28 million dollars through its international distribution network.
Following the seizure, Marwa said he ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team to trace the entire network behind the shipment, including the couriers, facilitators and masterminds.
Working with the management of the courier company, NDLEA operatives uncovered a network of intermediary companies and individuals allegedly used to process and move the drugs.
Two key suspects were subsequently arrested. The first, Lawal Mujab Kehinde, a staff member of the logistics company through which the cocaine was processed, was allegedly found to have maintained a sustained relationship with the cartel’s Nigerian coordinator.
Investigators established that Kehinde allegedly packaged and processed consignments for the syndicate and routed them to the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia in return for cash payments.
The second suspect, Afolabi Kazeem Michael, allegedly operated under the identity of ‘KC Luxury’ as a social media influencer and businessman dealing in gold, jewellery and other luxury goods.
According to Marwa, investigations identified him as the Nigerian arrowhead of the cartel, allegedly using his glamorous public profile to conceal a cocaine trafficking operation stretching from South America through Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
(GhPage)
