Drug Trafficking: UK, Nigeria Intensify Crackdown On Criminal Networks

The United Kingdom and Nigerian have mapped out strategies to ramp up the fight against criminal networks involved in international drug trafficking using both countries as either transit or destination point.

A statement issued by the British High Commission in Abuja noted that this collaboration has become necessary following the increasing level of drug trafficking by some Nigerians who have in recent times been arrested doing the illicit business with their alleged cohorts in the UK.

Recently a man and a woman of Nigerian origin were charged with international drugs trafficking offences as part of an investigation involving police in the UK and Nigeria.

Oladipupo Atandare, 50, from Dagenham and Latifat Yusuf, 44, from Hornchurch were arrested following the seizure of more than 180kg (397lb) of cocaine in the UK on 5 August.

According to the UK sources they appeared at Barkingside Magistrates Court on 8 August and were remanded in custody. They will next appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 7 September.

The Metropolitan Police said the arrests were solely related to the UK drugs seizure, but inquiries are continuing into the discovery of a similar-sized amount of cocaine in Nigeria.

A few days ago Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) discovered 184.5kg of cocaine, worth about £20million, in brown boxes at a courier facility in Lagos linked to a Nigerian socialite and social media influencer Afolabi Kazeem Michael, who was arrested in Lagos.

Afolabi Kazeem Michael, who is 49 and known online as KC Luxury, presented himself as a businessman and influencer dealing in gold and luxury goods, and regularly posted videos of his flashy cars.

Following these developments, the British High Commission welcomed the close cooperation between UK and Nigerian law enforcement agencies, which the British Chargée d’Affaires to Nigeria, Vicky Seymour, described as “the strength of the UK-Nigeria partnership in tackling serious and organised crime.”

“Working alongside the NDLEA, National Crime Agency and Home Office International Operations, partners in both countries are helping disrupt criminal networks, strengthen border security and protect communities from the harm caused by illicit drugs.

“We remain committed to working closely with Nigerian partners to tackle organised crime and keep our communities safe,” she added.