Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 59-year-old suspected drug baron, Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, 17 years after he went underground to ship illicit drugs worth billions of naira across the world.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at a press briefing.

He said that the suspect was arrested at his hideout in Ojo area of Lagos.

According to him, operatives of his Special Operations Unit, had been on the trail of Ogbonnaya following an Interpol red notice against him and information from the National Intelligence Service of South Korea.

“The major development that warranted this special briefing pertains to the arrest of a drug lord, who’s wanted across the world as the leader of an international drug trafficking organisation.

“I am therefore pleased to announce this significant breakthrough in our efforts to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates operating within the country. As we have said four years ago when we began the reform of the NDLEA, our prime targets are drug barons and other important figures that organise drug trafficking rings.

“On Wednesday, 12th February 2025, we achieved that objective in the successful arrest of Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, a 59-year-old drug baron. The suspect was arrested at his hideout at No. 3, Ibukunoluwa Taiwo Close, off LASU Road, Lagos. He has been under NDLEA investigation before his arrest.

“As a result, we have comprehensive intelligence on his activities, and incontrovertible facts that he is a notorious drug lord who recruited young Nigerians as couriers to smuggle illicit substances into the Republic of Korea (South Korea),” Marwa said.

He said that the NDLEA records reveal that many Nigerians apprehended outside the country for drug-related offences were linked to Ogbonnaya.

“Furthermore, we have established that he laundered drug proceeds through the importation of electronics and other goods. Following his arrest, a search of his residence led to the recovery of multiple Nigerian international passports belonging to different individuals, many of which contained Korean visas.

“Additionally, we recovered some illicit substances in a storehouse at the back of his house,” Marwa said.