The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned Kazeem Michael Afolabi, popularly known as KC Luxury, and two others before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged attempt to export 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine to the United Kingdom. The defendants, Afolabi, Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule, and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch, were charged with 22 counts of cocaine trafficking, unlawful export of narcotics, and money laundering.
According to the NDLEA, the defendants conspired between July 28 and August 1 to send the cocaine to London through a courier logistics company in Lagos. The consignment was allegedly concealed in five packages with Yemi Ejide listed as the shipper. The agency alleged that the defendants' actions contravened Section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act.
The NDLEA further accused Sule of procuring Patriarch to facilitate the shipment, while Afolabi was accused of using a staff member of BOT Express Logistics to process the packages. He was also accused of paying N13.2 million from a Mallamawa Ventures account with Zenith Bank to the company for the shipment.
The money-laundering counts alleged that Afolabi moved billions of naira through several company and personal accounts, including those belonging to Mallamawa Ventures, Fateey Man Multi-Purpose Nigeria Limited, Patonifa Limited, Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Limited, and La Capital Enterprises. Some of the funds were allegedly used to acquire vehicles and landed properties to conceal proceeds of the alleged drug trade.
The case followed the seizure of 184.5kg of cocaine by NDLEA operatives on August 3 at a DHL facility within the premises of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company in Ikeja, Lagos. The agency valued the cocaine at about N39 billion and described the seizure as its largest cocaine interception through a courier company in Nigeria.
The NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, described Afolabi as the alleged Nigerian "arrowhead" of an international drug-trafficking network allegedly moving cocaine from South America through Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia. Afolabi was arrested on August 13 at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while preparing to travel to Paris, France.
The NDLEA prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, opposed the defendants' bail application, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences. The court ordered that the three defendants be remanded in NDLEA custody, and adjourned the case until October 4 for ruling on their bail application.
Key points
- The NDLEA seized 184.5kg of cocaine valued at N39 billion in Lagos.
- The defendants were charged with 22 counts of cocaine trafficking, unlawful export of narcotics, and money laundering.
- The court remanded the defendants in NDLEA custody.
