The National Intelligence Service (NIS)’s International Crime Information Center (TCIC) announced on Thursday that it had successfully apprehended the mastermind of an international drug trafficking ring in Nigeria on February 13. This operation was conducted in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to the NIS, K·Jeff, a 59-year-old Nigerian national, was previously arrested in South Korea in 2007 for leading drug distribution operations. He served one year in prison before being deported in 2008. Since then, K·Jeff allegedly orchestrated drug trafficking operations from Nigeria, sourcing narcotics from North and Central America and Southeast Asia while overseeing a global smuggling network.
The NIS described K·Jeff’s organization as an emerging drug syndicate that had established strategic footholds across Southeast Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe. The group reportedly expanded its global reach by leveraging funds acquired through drug trafficking, romance scams, and investment fraud schemes.
To recruit drug mules, the organization employed a sophisticated “romance scam” strategy on social media. They would charm potential victims before extorting money or coercing them into specific actions. Operatives posed as personnel from international organizations, government agencies, or legal professionals to gain victims’ trust. Their primary Targets for drug transportation into South Korea were Korean nationals and foreigners eligible for visa-free entry into the country.
The investigation gained momentum when the NIS identified Nigerian operatives in Korea attempting to distribute drugs imported from Ghana. This initial discovery, made in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Drug Crime Investigation Unit in 2021, led to an extensive covert investigation involving domestic and international intelligence networks, ultimately dismantling the syndicate.
To date, the NIS has conducted seven major operations, seizing a total of 45.6 kg (100.5 lbs) of illicit substances, including 28.4 kg (62.6 lbs) of methamphetamine and 17.2 kg (38 lbs) of marijuana. The estimated street value of these narcotics is approximately KRW 97.2 billion (approximately $72.9 million). Authorities have arrested 37 members of the organization, including its leader.
The NIS has warned that North American drug cartels, facing intensified law enforcement efforts by the U.S. government, are now shifting their focus to the Asia-Pacific region, including South Korea. The agency urges the public to report any information related to drug crimes to the NIS by dialing 111 within the country. They also advise against traveling abroad at the request of online acquaintances and recommend refusing any requests to transport goods from overseas.