NDLEA seizes cocaine worth N39 billion, arrests two suspects linked to drug cartel

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced that it seized 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine valued at about N39 billion and arrested two suspects believed to be part of an international drug trafficking ring.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Buba Marwa, shared this news on Tuesday while speaking to journalists about what he called one of the agency's biggest investigations in recent times.

Mr Marwa stated that the seizure, worth about $27.7 million, is the largest cocaine interception made through a courier service in the agency's history.

He explained that the drugs were intercepted in Lagos while being prepared for export via a courier logistics company.

The investigation revealed that an international trafficking network was allegedly using Nigeria as a transit point to move cocaine from South America to the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe and Asia.

"Given the scale and sophistication of this seizure, I immediately directed the formation of a special investigation team to trace everyone involved in this consignment and bring the entire network to justice," Mr Marwa said.

He added that investigators collaborated with the courier company to track down the logistics agents, intermediary firms, and individuals connected to the shipment.

This investigation led to the arrest of two suspects, including an employee of a logistics company and a businessman and social media personality named Afolabi Kazeem Michael, known as KC Luxury.

Mr Marwa described Mr Michael as the Nigerian leader of the international cartel.

According to him, Mr Michael presented himself as a businessman and social media influencer in gold, jewellery, and luxury goods but allegedly used this image to hide his role in the drug trafficking network.

The NDLEA chairman mentioned that Mr Michael was arrested on 13 August at the boarding gate of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. He was about to board a business-class flight to Paris when the agency received intelligence about his plan.

Operatives arrested him before he could board the flight. They allegedly recovered €7,750, £2,800, and N100,000 in cash, along with expensive jewellery.

A search of his luxury apartment on Banana Island, Lagos, also revealed exotic cars and other valuable items, Mr Marwa said.

He explained that investigators found that the syndicate operated a route from South America through Nigeria to the UK, using fake identities, financial facilitators, and contacts in the UK.

"Some of them, I am pleased to confirm, have been arrested by our counterparts abroad in connection with the same syndicate," he said.

Mr Marwa also revealed that the second suspect, Lawal Kehinde, who works for a logistics company, was linked to the processing and movement of cocaine shipments.

He stated that the investigation showed that the suspect had a close relationship with the Nigerian coordinator of the syndicate and was involved in paying for and processing packages containing cocaine for export.

Mr Marwa said this investigation highlights a growing trend in how international drug traffickers operate.

He noted that traffickers are increasingly avoiding traditional routes like seaports and are now using courier services, which they see as less monitored channels for moving drugs across borders.

"There is no alternative route into or out of Nigeria for illegal drugs that this agency cannot monitor," he said.

The NDLEA chairman emphasized that the agency would keep strengthening intelligence-driven operations to stop traffickers from using alternative channels.

He also pointed out the need for international cooperation to break down drug networks, mentioning that suspects linked to the same cartel have also been caught abroad.

Mr Marwa mentioned the dismantling of the Switzerland-based Carlos Meza Torrero drug cartel and the arrest of Nigerian-Mexican syndicates involved in producing synthetic drugs as examples of the agency's recent successes against international drug trafficking.

He praised the NDLEA Special Investigation Team, especially those working under the Director of Operations and General Investigation, for tracing the alleged network from the seized consignment to its suspected leaders in Nigeria.

He added that the investigation is being handled by the agency's legal, assets, and financial teams, which are working towards prosecuting the suspects and seizing assets linked to the criminal activities.