Nigerian Influencer Arrested as NDLEA Seizes Cocaine Worth $28m Allegedly Destined for UK

A Nigerian social media influencer, Afolabi Kareem Michael, popularly known as “KC Luxury,” has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following the seizure of cocaine estimated at $28 million allegedly destined for the United Kingdom.

Michael, 49, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to board a business-class flight to Paris, according to the anti-narcotics agency.

The suspect, who has more than 700,000 followers on Instagram, reportedly presents himself as a businessman involved in gold and luxury goods.

The NDLEA alleged that Michael was the Nigerian “arrowhead” of an international drug trafficking network responsible for moving cocaine from South America through Nigeria to destinations in Europe and Asia.

The agency said intelligence indicated that Michael was planning to leave the country, prompting its operatives to intercept him at the airport’s boarding gate.

According to NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, the agency moved swiftly after receiving credible intelligence about the suspect’s planned departure.

“Upon credible intelligence that he intended to flee the country, our operatives moved decisively and apprehended him at the boarding gate, just as he attempted to escape the reach of the law,” Marwa said.

The NDLEA said Michael was found in possession of more than $12,840 in various currencies, including euros, British pounds and Nigerian naira. He was also allegedly carrying expensive jewellery linked to proceeds from his suspected illicit activities.

Another suspect, 33-year-old Lawal Mujab Kehinde, was also arrested in connection with the alleged trafficking operation.

Kehinde, according to the agency, worked with a logistics company allegedly used to transport the cocaine. The NDLEA said he packaged the drugs for export and received cash payment for his role.

The agency further disclosed that other suspected members of the international trafficking network had been arrested by law enforcement authorities in the United Kingdom.

Marwa described the arrests and seizure as a product of international cooperation between law enforcement agencies and assured that the NDLEA would continue efforts to dismantle the network and apprehend other suspects.

“We will track you to the departure gate if we must,” Marwa said at a news conference in Lagos.

Michael and Kehinde have not publicly commented on the allegations and, according to the information provided by the NDLEA, neither had been charged in court at the time of the report.