Three arraigned in Nigeria over 184.5 kg of cocaine — Premium Times Nigeria
In Lagos, Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has brought the case of Kezim Michael Afolabi, known as KC Luxury, and two other men before the Federal High Court. They are accused of allegedly attempting to ship 184.5 kg of cocaine to the United Kingdom. As Premium Times Nigeria reports, all three pleaded not guilty to 22 counts.
Along with Afolabi, Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch appeared before the court. The NDLEA accuses them of cocaine trafficking, unlawful export of drugs and money laundering. Judge Ayokunle Faji ordered that all three remain in NDLEA custody pending a decision on their bail application.
NDLEA version
According to the agency, between July 28 and August 1, the defendants allegedly conspired to send cocaine to London through a courier logistics company in Lagos. The shipment, the NDLEA claims, was concealed in five parcels.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
In the first count, the NDLEA also alleged that Afolabi, Sule and Patriarch conspired with Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf. The agency said the latter two were arrested in London. According to investigators, Sule enlisted Patriarch to facilitate the shipment, while Afolabi used an employee of BOT Express Logistics to process the parcels.
Seizure of shipment and arrest
The case was preceded by the seizure on August 3 of 184.5 kg of cocaine at a DHL facility on the premises of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company in Ikeja, Lagos. The NDLEA valued the shipment at approximately 39 billion naira and called it the largest cocaine interception through a courier company in Nigeria.
Afolabi was arrested on August 13 in the departure area of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while, according to the NDLEA, he was preparing to fly to Paris. The agency's prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, objected to granting the defendants bail, citing the seriousness of the charges.
