The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has broken up an international cocaine trafficking network that allegedly used Nigeria as a transit route to move illicit drugs to the United Kingdom, other European countries, and Asia.
According to Tripod Times,the agency apprehended the suspected Nigerian coordinator of the group , a self-proclaimed luxury goods dealer and social media influencer, Afolabi Michael, popularly known online as “KC Luxury” while he was trying to leave the country.
In a statement released on Tuesday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), revealed the details during a press briefing in Lagos.
Marwa described the operation as one of the agency’s biggest drug investigations in recent years. He said it resulted in the confiscation of 184.50kg of cocaine, marking the largest seizure of cocaine linked to a courier company in Nigeria.
He explained that the case began with the interception of a cocaine shipment hidden for export through a courier and logistics channel in Lagos.
“The first, Lawal Mujab Kehinde, a staff member of the logistics firm through which the cocaine was processed, was found to have a direct and sustained relationship with the cartel’s Nigerian coordinator. Investigation also established that he packages and processes consignments for the syndicate, routes them to the United Kingdom, other parts of Europe and Asia, while he was paid in cash.
The second and more prominent suspect is Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known online as “KC Luxury,” whom investigations identified as the Nigerian arrowhead of the cartel. 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 moving cocaine along a pipeline stretching from South America, through Nigeria, to the United Kingdom, other parts of Europe and Asia,” Marwa said.
According to Marwa, Afolabi was picked up at the boarding gate of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on August 13, 2026, after intelligence revealed he was about to board a business-class flight to Paris.
The NDLEA boss also noted that the operation involved close collaboration with international partners, leading to near-simultaneous arrests of suspected members in both Nigeria and the UK.
He praised the agency’s international collaborators and the Special Investigation Team, led by the Director of Operations and General Investigation, for their professionalism in exposing the syndicate.
Marwa cautioned people who use luxury brands, lavish lifestyles, and social media influence to mask drug trafficking, saying the agency would pursue them.
“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.
