Nigeria influencer arrested after seizure of $28m cocaine shipment bound for UK

Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said 184.5kg of cocaine was discovered hidden in brown boxes at a courier facility in Lagos on 3 August. Officials said the shipment was part of an international trafficking operation that has for years used Nigeria as a transit point to move drugs to the UK, other European countries and Asia.

Ten days after the seizure, a man identified as Micheal was arrested at Lagos's Murtala Mohammed International Airport as he attempted to board a business-class flight to Paris. NDLEA chairman General Buba Marwa said operatives acted on credible intelligence that he planned to flee, apprehending him at the boarding gate just as he tried to escape justice.

At the time of his arrest, Micheal was carrying more than $12,840 in cash across three currencies — euros, pounds and naira — along with expensive jewellery that the agency said was consistent with proceeds from illegal trafficking.

Second suspect held

A second suspect, 33-year-old Lawal Mujab Kehinde, has also been detained. He is alleged to have worked for the logistics company used to transport the cocaine, packaging it for export in exchange for cash payments, according to the NDLEA. Kehinde has not responded to the allegations and has not yet been charged in court.

The agency added that other suspected members of the trafficking network based in the UK have also been arrested, in cooperation with overseas law enforcement counterparts. The BBC said it was seeking comment from UK authorities on the case.

Marwa said the operation showed what could be achieved through international cooperation between agencies and vowed to continue pursuing remaining members of the network, saying they would be tracked down at departure gates if necessary.