ABUJA — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested the alleged Nigerian kingpin of the popular KC Group, Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as “KC Luxury,” over his alleged involvement in an international cocaine trafficking network.
Michael was arrested on August 13 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while allegedly attempting to flee Nigeria on a business-class flight to Paris.
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed this while briefing journalists in Lagos on Tuesday.
According to Marwa, the arrest followed the seizure of 184.50kg of cocaine, valued at about N39bn, which was concealed in a consignment processed through a courier logistics company in Lagos.
He said the cocaine was allegedly destined for the United Kingdom, other European countries and Asia.
Following the seizure, Marwa said he ordered a special investigation to identify the couriers, facilitators and masterminds behind the shipment.
The investigation led to the arrest of two key suspects, including a staff member of the logistics company, Lawal Mujab Kehinde, who allegedly packaged and processed consignments for the cartel.
Kehinde was said to have maintained a relationship with Michael and allegedly received cash payments for his role in routing the consignments overseas.
Marwa identified Michael as the alleged Nigerian arrowhead of the cartel, saying he used his public profile as a social media influencer and luxury goods dealer to allegedly conceal his drug trafficking activities.
Investigators, according to the NDLEA boss, linked Michael to a drug pipeline stretching from South America through Nigeria to the UK, Europe and Asia.
Marwa said intelligence showed that Michael planned to leave the country for Paris, prompting NDLEA operatives to arrest him at the airport boarding gate.
The agency recovered €7,750, £2,800 and N100,000 from the suspect, as well as expensive jewellery.
A subsequent search of his luxury apartment on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, also led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, the NDLEA said.
Marwa alleged that the cartel used false identities to conceal the real consignors of its shipments and relied on financial facilitators to move billions of naira.
He added that some members of the syndicate had already been arrested by British authorities in connection with the same operation.
The NDLEA chairman described the arrests in Nigeria and the UK as a major breakthrough in international efforts to dismantle transnational drug trafficking networks.
He said the development also underscored the agency’s increasing focus on courier and logistics companies allegedly being exploited by traffickers as alternatives to seaports and airports.
Marwa warned that traffickers who attempted to hide behind luxury lifestyles, social media influence and wealth would be pursued by the agency.
The disclosure was contained in a statement issued by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Tuesday.
The agency described the operation as one of its most significant recent investigations and said it resulted in what it considered the largest cocaine seizure linked to a courier company in Nigeria.