The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 59-year-old Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, a notorious drug kingpin who had been on the run for 17 years. He was apprehended at his hideout in the Ojo area of Lagos following extensive surveillance and intelligence gathering. Jeff was known for running a transnational drug trafficking network that smuggled illegal substances across multiple countries.
According to NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Jeff had been on Interpol’s Red Notice list after intelligence from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service linked him to large-scale drug smuggling. He had previously been convicted and jailed for one year in South Korea in 2007 before being deported to Nigeria in 2008. However, instead of abandoning his criminal activities, he continued orchestrating drug shipments worth billions of naira.
Investigations revealed that Jeff’s syndicate operated in several West African countries, including Ghana, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and Liberia. He allegedly recruited young Nigerians as drug couriers, using them to transport narcotics to Asia and other regions. NDLEA officials stated that his organization was responsible for trafficking significant quantities of methamphetamine and heroin, with South Korea being one of his major markets.
The agency also disclosed that Jeff smuggled drugs valued at over ₦1.4 billion into South Korea between 2023 and 2024. His arrest is considered a major breakthrough in the NDLEA’s fight against international drug cartels. Authorities are now working to dismantle the remnants of his network and trace his financial transactions to cut off illicit funding sources.
NDLEA has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling drug-related crimes and ensuring that traffickers face justice. The agency urged Nigerians to support its efforts by reporting suspicious activities and emphasized the need for international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking. Jeff is currently in NDLEA custody, and further investigations are underway to uncover more details about his operations.
