The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Lagos “big boy” and luxury goods dealer Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, over his alleged role as the Nigerian arrowhead of an international cocaine trafficking cartel.
KC Luxury was arrested at the boarding gate of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on August 13, as he allegedly attempted to flee the country on a business-class flight to Paris.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the arrest followed the interception of 184.50kg of cocaine concealed in a courier consignment in Lagos.
Marwa said the cartel allegedly used Nigeria as a transit hub for moving cocaine to the United Kingdom, other parts of Europe and Asia, and hoped to make as much as N39 billion from the consignment.
According to the NDLEA, KC Luxury allegedly used his glamorous lifestyle and public image as a businessman dealing in gold, jewellery and luxury goods to conceal his alleged involvement in the drug trade.
“Parading as a social media influencer and businessman dealing in gold, jewellery, and luxury goods, Afolabi used his glamorous public image to disguise a criminal enterprise,” Marwa said.
The agency said KC Luxury was arrested with €7,750, £2,800 and N100,000, as well as expensive jewellery.
A search of his luxury apartment in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, also led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, according to the NDLEA.
Another suspect, Lawal Mujab Kehinde, a staff member of the logistics company through which the cocaine was processed, was also arrested.
Marwa said investigations showed that the cartel used intermediary companies, false identities and financial facilitators to move its consignments and conceal the identities of its members.
He also said some members of the network in the United Kingdom had been arrested by British authorities in connection with the same cartel.
Marwa warned traffickers who hide behind luxury brands and social media fame that the agency would track them down.
“To those who believe they can hide behind luxury brands, glamorous lifestyles, and social media personas while trafficking poison into our communities and across our borders, this Agency will find you,” he said.
