The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine from a courier company in Lagos, describing the operation as the largest cocaine seizure from a courier firm in the agency’s history.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, saying two suspects had been arrested in connection with the consignment.
The suspects were identified as Afolabi Kazeem Micheal, popularly known as KC Luxury, and Lawal Kehinde, an employee of a logistics company.
Marwa said the seizure was made following intelligence and cooperation between the NDLEA and the management of the logistics company. The agency subsequently traced and arrested the suspects allegedly linked to the consignment.
According to the NDLEA chairman, Nigeria is increasingly being used as a transit route for illicit drugs destined for the United Kingdom, Europe and parts of Asia.
Marwa said KC Luxury was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while allegedly attempting to leave the country.
He said operatives moved to stop the suspect after receiving intelligence that he planned to flee Nigeria on a business-class flight to Paris.
The NDLEA chairman said the suspect was arrested at the airport’s boarding gate on August 13. At the time of his arrest, he was allegedly found with €7,750, £2,800, N100,000 and expensive jewellery.
The agency also reported the discovery of exotic vehicles at the suspect’s luxury apartment in Banana Island, Ikoyi.
Marwa warned drug traffickers and those involved in financing or distributing illicit substances that the agency would continue to track them regardless of their wealth, connections or lifestyle.
“It does not matter how well-connected, how wealthy, or how far you attempt to run,” Marwa said.
He added that the latest operation demonstrated the agency’s determination to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating through Nigeria.
Source: NDLEA
