A Nigerian social media influencer has been arrested in Lagos over alleged involvement in an international drug trafficking network following the seizure of cocaine valued at nearly $28 million.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) identified the suspect as 49-year-old Afolabi Kazeem Micheal, popularly known as “KC Luxury”, who has about 700,000 followers on Instagram.
Micheal was arrested last week at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to board a business-class flight to Paris.
The NDLEA alleged that Michael was the Nigerian “arrowhead” of a cartel responsible for moving cocaine from South America through Nigeria to destinations across Europe and Asia.
Online, Michael reportedly portrayed himself as a businessman involved in gold and luxury goods. He has not publicly responded to the allegations and has not been charged before a court.
The agency said 184.5kg of cocaine was discovered on Monday, August 3, concealed inside brown boxes at a courier facility in Lagos.
According to the NDLEA, the consignment was being prepared for export to the United Kingdom by an international trafficking organisation that had allegedly used Nigeria for years as a transit route for drugs heading to the UK, other European countries and Asia.
Ten days after the cocaine seizure, Michael was apprehended at the Lagos airport after authorities received intelligence that he was planning to leave Nigeria.
“Upon credible intelligence that he intended to flee the country… our operatives moved decisively and apprehended him at the boarding gate… just as he attempted to escape the reach of the law,” NDLEA chairman, General Buba Marwa, said.
The agency said officers recovered more than $12,840 in cash in three currencies — euros, British pounds and naira — as well as expensive jewellery from Micheal at the time of his arrest.
The NDLEA claimed the items were “consistent with the proceeds of his illicit trade.”
Another suspect, 33-year-old Lawal Mujab Kehinde, was also arrested over the alleged drug operation.
Kehinde is accused of working for a logistics company used to transport the cocaine. The NDLEA alleged that he packaged the drugs for export and received cash payments for his role.
Kehinde has also not commented on the allegations and has not been charged in court.
The agency further disclosed that law enforcement authorities in the UK had arrested other suspected members of the trafficking network as part of an international investigation.
Marwa said the arrests showed the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies across countries and vowed that the NDLEA would continue pursuing other individuals allegedly connected to the network.
“We will track you to the departure gates if we must,” he said at a news conference in Lagos.
