A Nigerian social media influencer suspected of links to an international drug trafficking network has been arrested in Lagos following the seizure of cocaine worth nearly Sh3.8 billion ($28m) allegedly destined for the UK.
Afolabi Kazeem Micheal was arrested by operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, according to the BBC.
Known to his 700,000 Instagram followers as “KC Luxury”, the 49-year-old was intercepted at the boarding gate while attempting to board a business-class flight to Paris.
Authorities allege Micheal was the Nigerian “arrowhead” for an international cartel that moved South American cocaine through Nigeria to European and Asian markets.
His arrest came 10 days after drug enforcement officers seized 184.5kg of cocaine concealed in brown boxes at a courier facility in Lagos on August 3.
The NDLEA said the shipment was part of a long-running trafficking operation that used Nigeria as a transit point.
“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,” NDLEA chairman General Buba Marwa said.
At the time of his arrest, Micheal was allegedly carrying expensive jewellery and more than Sh1.7 million ($12,840) in various currencies, including euros, pounds and naira.
The NDLEA said the items were consistent with proceeds from illegal drug activities.
Online, Micheal had presented himself as a legitimate entrepreneur dealing in gold and high-end goods.
A second suspect, 33-year-old Lawal Mujab Kehinde, was also arrested in connection with the operation.
Authorities allege Kehinde worked for a logistics firm where he packaged the cocaine for shipment in exchange for cash payments.
Neither Micheal nor Kehinde has publicly commented on the allegations, and neither has appeared in court to face charges.
The NDLEA said law enforcement partners overseas had also made arrests in the UK linked to the syndicate as investigations into the wider network continue.
Marwa described the operation as a success in cross-border law enforcement cooperation and warned other suspects that investigators would continue pursuing them.
“We will track you to the departure gates if we must,” he said at a news briefing in Lagos.