The National Intelligence Service of South Korea (NIS) has given salute to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for an excellent work and professionalism in hold off Ogbonnaya Kevin, a 59-year-old drug lord who was on escape.
For 17 years, Ogbonnaya had been skillfully shipping in illegal drugs said to worth billions of naira around the world . His time came to an end in February when NDLEA agents arrested him in Lagos.
Ogbonnaya had been a major threat to Korean officials due to his ongoing shipments of illegal drugs to South Korea. This led to Interpol issuing a red notice for his arrest, and the NIS reached out to the NDLEA for assistance in locating him.
In 2007, he served a one-year prison sentence in Korea for drug-related crimes and was deported back to Nigeria in 2008. After years of searching for him, the NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit finally captured him on February 12, 2025, at his hideout located at No. 3, Ibukunoluwa Taiwo Close, off LASU Road, Lagos.
Thrilled with the success, a delegation from the Korean Intelligence Service visited Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), the Chairman and CEO of the NDLEA, on Wednesday to present a letter of thanks from NIS Director Taeyong Cho.
In the letter, Cho expressed his appreciation for Marwa’s assistance and highlighted “the NDLEA’s outstanding cooperation during our recent joint operation that resulted in the arrest of Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, a major player in an international drug ring.”
The head of Korean Intelligence stated, “Kevin Jeff played a key role in smuggling large amounts of drugs into South Korea, and the NIS has been monitoring him for many years. I am very happy that our two agencies have successfully worked together for the first time to bring him to justice. Without the important help from the NDLEA, our long-term efforts may not have succeeded.
“I want to express my sincere thanks to the NDLEA for their outstanding support in this cooperation. Building on this important success in our joint fight against drug-related crimes, I am excited to strengthen our partnership even more.” The NIS team, which included Messrs Choi Younkwan and Kim Juseok, requested the extradition of Ogbonnaya to South Korea to face drug charges.
In response, Marwa thanked the Koreans for their praise and assured them that Nigeria will always be a reliable partner in the global battle against illegal drug trafficking. “We’re happy to work with you and assist you because your agency has a long-standing reputation for professionalism. You can always count on us to collaborate toward a drug-free world,” stated the NDLEA leader.
He also thanked the Korean government for donating equipment to the agency, noting that it “will greatly assist us as we continue our mission to keep Nigeria and the world safe from drug traffickers.” He mentioned that he would review their extradition request and operate within the guidelines of Nigerian laws and the agreements between the two nations. He expressed hope for training opportunities for NDLEA officers at the Korean Intelligence training institution as part of their growing partnership.
