After nearly two decades of evading justice, one of Nigeria’s most wanted drug barons, Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, has finally been captured in a dramatic operation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
His arrest in Lagos marked the end of a 17-year manhunt that spanned multiple continents, involved international law enforcement agencies, and exposed a sophisticated narcotics trafficking network worth billions of naira.
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), announced the arrest at a press briefing in Abuja on March 3, 2025, detailing how Ogbonnaya had been a prime target of anti-narcotics efforts due to his extensive operations across West Africa and Asia.
The agency, working alongside Interpol and South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, tracked him to a hideout in Ojo, Lagos, where he was finally apprehended.
Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, 59, is not just another drug dealer—he is a mastermind who has overseen an international drug empire from the shadows.
His syndicate smuggled illicit substances, primarily methamphetamine and cannabis, from Nigeria to countries such as South Korea, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Liberia. The NDLEA confirmed that many Nigerians arrested abroad for drug-related offenses had ties to his organization.
Despite serving a one-year prison sentence in South Korea in 2007 and being deported in 2008, Ogbonnaya resumed his illegal trade upon his return to Nigeria.
He orchestrated large-scale drug shipments while laundering proceeds through seemingly legitimate businesses, including electronics imports.
His influence extended far beyond Nigeria, with operatives stationed in various African and Asian countries.
The NDLEA revealed shocking details of Ogbonnaya’s recent operations.
In October 2023, he allegedly shipped over six kilograms of skunk, cleverly concealed in dried chillies and jujube, to a South Korean associate.
Further investigations uncovered that between December 2023 and April 2024, he dispatched at least five kilograms of methamphetamine through couriers, using intricate smuggling techniques.
South Korean authorities issued two arrest warrants against Ogbonnaya in 2024 for multiple violations of the country’s Narcotics Control Act—offenses punishable by life imprisonment. An Interpol Red Notice had also been issued, ensuring that his movements were closely monitored.
NDLEA operatives executed a carefully coordinated raid on February 12, 2025, storming his residence in Lagos.
A search of the premises unearthed multiple Nigerian passports with Korean visas, suspected to belong to recruited drug couriers.
The agency also discovered illicit substances stashed in a hidden storehouse.
Marwa emphasized that the arrest reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to crushing drug syndicates:
“We have been clear in our mission—to dismantle the operations of drug barons who think they can use Nigeria as a base for their crimes.
This arrest sends a strong message: we will not relent until we eliminate drug trafficking networks that endanger public health and national security.”
With his capture, Ogbonnaya faces extradition proceedings to South Korea, where he will stand trial for his alleged crimes.
His syndicate is also under intense scrutiny, with NDLEA continuing efforts to apprehend his associates and dismantle the remnants of his drug empire.
As Nigeria strengthens its global partnerships in the fight against illicit drugs, the fall of a kingpin like Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff signals that there is no refuge for traffickers—no matter how long they run.
