The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the dismantling of an international drug trafficking network that allegedly used Nigeria as a transit point for illicit substances destined for the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
DailyVista247 gathered that a Lagos-based businessman and social media personality, Afolabi Michael, widely known online as KC Luxury, was arrested as the alleged Nigerian coordinator of the syndicate involved in the operation.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), described the operation as one of the most significant investigations carried out by the agency in recent times.
According to Marwa, the investigation started after NDLEA operatives intercepted a consignment of 184.50 kilograms of cocaine that was concealed for export through a courier and logistics company in Lagos. He said the seizure is the largest ever recorded by the agency through a courier channel.
Due to the scale of the seizure, Marwa said he directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team to trace all persons connected to the shipment and uncover the full network behind it. Preliminary findings indicated that the consignment had an estimated international market value of about N39 billion.
Working in collaboration with the management of the courier company, NDLEA operatives were able to trace a chain of intermediary companies and individuals allegedly used to process and move the shipment. This collaborative effort led to further arrests and expanded the scope of the investigation.
Two key suspects were identified during the investigation. The first is Lawal Mujab Kehinde, a staff member of the logistics firm. Investigators alleged that he had a long-standing connection with the syndicate and was responsible for packaging and routing consignments to the UK, Europe and Asia in exchange for cash payments.
The second suspect is Afolabi Kazeem Michael. According to the NDLEA, he operated under the cover of a luxury lifestyle brand dealing in gold, jewellery and other high-end goods. The agency alleged that his public image as a social media influencer was used to conceal the operations of the network, which reportedly moved substances from South America through Nigeria to other continents.
Afolabi was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on August 13, 2026, while attempting to board a business-class flight to Paris. At the time of his arrest, he was found with foreign and local currencies including 7,750 Euros, 2,800 British Pounds, and N100,000, along with expensive jewellery and luxury items.
A search conducted at his residence on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, led to the recovery of luxury vehicles, according to the agency. The NDLEA also stated that the syndicate allegedly used false identities to hide the true senders of shipments and relied on financial facilitators who handled large sums of money on its behalf.
The NDLEA Chairman said the development shows that traffickers can no longer hide behind legitimate businesses or luxury lifestyles. He noted that trafficking groups have recently shifted focus to courier companies due to increased security checks at seaports and airports. He commended the Special Investigation Team and the agency's international partners for their role in the operation and warned that monitoring will continue.
Photo Credit: NDLEA
