NDLEA arrests wanted drug baron in Lagos
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA
Abdullateef Fowewe
The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a wanted 59-year-old drug baron, Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff at his hideout in the Ojo area of Lagos.
The arrest was disclosed by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Buba Marwa, while addressing journalists on Monday.
He revealed that the agency had collected irrefutable evidence of Ogbonnaya’s involvement, including his recruitment of young Nigerians as drug couriers to transport illegal substances into the Republic of Korea.
Marwa said, “The major development that warranted this special briefing pertains to the arrest of a drug lord who was 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 National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (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).
“Our records reveal that many Nigerians apprehended outside the country for drug-related offences were linked to him. 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.”
