The National Intelligence Service (NIS) of the Republic of Korea has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for the arrest of a 59-year-old drug kingpin, Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, who had been on the run for 17 years.
Jeff, a convicted drug trafficker, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at his hideout located at No. 3 Ibukunoluwa Taiwo Close, off LASU Road, Lagos. He had served a one-year prison sentence in South Korea in 2007 and was deported to Nigeria in 2008. However, he continued to coordinate illicit drug shipments worth billions of naira from Nigeria to various parts of the world, including South Korea.
Frustrated by his continued operations, the Korean authorities issued an Interpol red notice and sought the assistance of the NDLEA in tracking and arresting him. Jeff’s eventual capture followed years of surveillance and collaboration between the two agencies.
In appreciation of the successful operation, a delegation from the Korean intelligence agency visited the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday to deliver a letter of commendation from the Director of the NIS, Taeyong Cho, to the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd).
Cho, in his letter, praised the NDLEA’s “exceptional cooperation” during the joint operation, noting that Jeff was a “key figure in an international drug organisation.” He said, “Without the NDLEA’s invaluable cooperation, those long-standing efforts might have been in vain.”
The delegation, comprising Choi Younkwan and Kim Juseok, also discussed the possibility of Jeff’s extradition to South Korea to face pending drug-related charges.
In his response, Marwa thanked the Korean government for its support and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global anti-drug efforts. “We’re delighted to partner with you and be of service,” he said, adding that Nigeria would consider the extradition request in line with its laws and bilateral agreements.
He also thanked the Korean government for donating equipment to the NDLEA and expressed hope for further collaboration, including training opportunities for NDLEA personnel in South Korea.
