After 17 years on the watchlist of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), notorious drug baron Ogbonnaya Kevin, 59, has been apprehended in his hideout in the Ojo area of Lagos State.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Ogbonnaya, a key figure in a global drug trafficking syndicate, masterminded multiple illicit drug shipments worth billions of naira across various countries, including South Korea. His arrest represents a major victory for the NDLEA in its ongoing efforts to dismantle international narcotics operations.
NDLEA’s Crackdown on a Global Drug Trafficker
At a press conference in Abuja, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), confirmed that the agency’s Special Operations Unit, acting on intelligence from the National Intelligence Service of South Korea and an INTERPOL Red Notice, successfully tracked down Ogbonnaya.
“The major development that warranted this special briefing pertains to the arrest of a drug lord wanted across the world as the leader of an international drug trafficking organization,” Marwa announced. “On Wednesday, 12th February 2025, we achieved that objective in the successful arrest of Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff.”
He explained that Ogbonnaya was a significant recruiter of young Nigerians who were used as drug couriers to smuggle narcotics into South Korea. Several Nigerians arrested abroad for drug-related offenses were linked to his syndicate.
Drug Proceeds Laundered Through Imports
Investigations uncovered that Ogbonnaya laundered his drug proceeds through the importation of electronics and other goods. During a search of his residence, NDLEA operatives found multiple Nigerian international passports with Korean visas, as well as illicit substances hidden at the back of his house.
“Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff is not a typical domestic drug baron; he is an international trafficker operating both from Nigeria and abroad. His dossier indicates that he served a one-year prison sentence in the Republic of Korea in 2007 and was deported to Nigeria in 2008. Despite this, he continued his illicit trade, remaining actively involved in drug trafficking operations to the Far East,” Marwa stated.
Wanted in South Korea for Drug Offenses
Ogbonnaya is wanted in South Korea for multiple drug trafficking offenses, leading to two arrest warrants issued by the Seoul Central District Court in 2024.
Marwa detailed how Ogbonnaya shipped over N1.4 billion worth of narcotics to South Korea, using elaborate concealment techniques.
“On 5th October 2023, at a location in Burkina Faso, the suspect dispatched 6,051.06 grams of skunk, concealed in dried chilies and jujube, to a Korean, Kim Dong Wook, at a designated address in Jinju City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. The package arrived at Incheon Airport on 19th October 2023 at 07:20 am via Air France.”
Authorities have also identified his key operatives, including both domestic and international drug couriers who facilitated shipments.
NDLEA Reaffirms Commitment to Anti-Drug Efforts
Brig. Gen. Marwa reaffirmed NDLEA’s dedication to ensuring that Nigeria does not become a hub for global drug trafficking.
“The arrest of Ogbonnaya is therefore an affirmation of our resolve to work with our international partners to ensure no drug baron finds Nigeria a comfort zone to distribute illicit substances within the country or traffic them to other countries.”
With his arrest, NDLEA has dealt a significant blow to international drug syndicates, strengthening Nigeria’s role in global anti-drug efforts and safeguarding national security.
