The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a suspected international drug trafficker, Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, after 17 years of evading capture.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday, revealing that the 59-year-old suspect was caught at his hideout on Ibukunoluwa Taiwo Close, off LASU Road in Lagos. The operation followed extensive surveillance by the agency’s Special Operations Unit, in collaboration with the National Intelligence Service of South Korea and an INTERPOL Red Notice issued for his arrest.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) described Ogbonnaya as a key figure in an international drug syndicate responsible for smuggling illicit substances worth billions of naira across multiple countries.
“Our prime targets are drug barons and those who control trafficking networks,” Marwa stated. “On February 12, 2025, we successfully arrested Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, a notorious drug lord linked to several drug trafficking operations to South Korea and beyond.”
Investigations revealed that Ogbonnaya had been recruiting young Nigerians as drug couriers and laundering proceeds through electronics imports. Authorities discovered multiple Nigerian passports bearing different identities and Korean visas at his residence, as well as illicit substances stored on his property.
The NDLEA disclosed that Ogbonnaya previously served a prison sentence in South Korea in 2007 before being deported to Nigeria in 2008. However, he continued his illegal trade, orchestrating drug shipments from Nigeria to the Far East. His syndicate reportedly operated across several African countries, including Cameroon, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Liberia.
Further findings showed that in October 2023, Ogbonnaya sent over six kilograms of cannabis concealed in dried chillies to a contact in Jinju City, South Korea. Between December 2023 and April 2024, he allegedly instructed drug mules to smuggle five kilograms of methamphetamine into South Korea. NDLEA estimates the street value of his recent drug consignments at over N1.4 billion.
With multiple arrest warrants issued against him by the Seoul Central District Court, the NDLEA is working closely with international partners to ensure justice.
“We remain committed to preventing Nigeria from being a hub for international drug trafficking,” Marwa affirmed. “This arrest is a testament to our resolve to dismantle illicit drug networks and bring their masterminds to justice.”
Ogbonnaya is currently in NDLEA custody, awaiting further legal proceedings.
