NDLEA busts cocaine cartel, arrests social media influencer KC Luxury in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Nigeria has dismantled an international cocaine trafficking cartel that allegedly utilized Nigeria as a transit point for moving illicit drugs to the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia. At the helm of this syndicate was Afolabi Michael, a social media influencer and self-proclaimed luxury goods dealer, also known online as "KC Luxury." He was apprehended at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while attempting to flee the country.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed that this operation, one of the largest narcotics investigations in recent years, resulted in the seizure of 184.50kg of cocaine, the highest quantity seized via a courier company in Nigeria. The operation commenced with the interception of the cocaine consignment concealed for export through a courier logistics channel in Lagos. Following the seizure, a Special Investigation Team was formed to trace the entire network behind the shipment.

Two key suspects were apprehended: Lawal Mujab Kehinde, a staff member of the logistics firm, and Afolabi Kazeem Michael, the Nigerian anchor of the cartel. Afolabi, disguised as a social media influencer and businessman dealing in luxury goods, was found in possession of €7,750, £2,800, and N100,000 cash, as well as expensive jewelry.

Additionally, his luxury apartment on Banana Island, Ikoyi, yielded the recovery of exotic vehicles. The cartel's operation involved false identities to conceal the true consignors, financial facilitators to move billions of naira on its behalf, and criminal connections in the UK that had already been arrested by British authorities.