- The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, a 59-year-old internationally wanted drug baron.
- Jeff had been on the run for 17 years and had two Interpol Red Notices issued against him in 2023 and 2024.
- He was apprehended at his hideout in Ojo, Lagos.
- Jeff is accused of smuggling illicit substances into South Korea and laundering drug proceeds through imported goods.
- NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), emphasized the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug syndicates.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has finally apprehended Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, a notorious 59-year-old drug baron, after a staggering 17 years on the run. Jeff, who had been issued two Interpol Red Notices in 2023 and 2024, was caught at his hideout in Ojo, Lagos.
According to NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Jeff is not just a local drug trafficker, but a major player in the international cartel. He’s been smuggling illicit substances into South Korea and laundering his profits through imported goods. Marwa emphasized the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug syndicates, and this arrest is a significant milestone in that effort.
Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, a notorious 59-year-old drug baron, has been arrested after 17 years on the run. Investigations revealed that Jeff had served a prison sentence in South Korea in 2007 for drug-related offenses and was deported to Nigeria in 2008. However, he continued to operate his illicit trade, recruiting young Nigerians as couriers and coordinating shipments worth over N1.4 billion .
NDLEA operatives recovered multiple Nigerian passports with Korean visas from Jeff’s residence, along with illicit substances. Further investigation linked him to drug networks across several African countries, including Cameroon, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Liberia.
Jeff faces possible extradition to South Korea, where he has pending arrest warrants from the Seoul Central District Court. If convicted, he could receive a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring Nigeria is not a base for drug cartels, stating that no drug baron will find Nigeria a safe haven for their illicit trade.
