Lagos, Nigeria (WDEF) — K. Jeff (59), the leader of an international drug organization, was arrested in Lagos, Nigeria, on November 13, 2023, after authorities uncovered his operation that exploited online romance scams to recruit drug couriers.
The arrest was made in cooperation with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). K. Jeff, a Nigerian national, had previously been arrested in South Korea in 2007 for drug distribution crimes and deported in 2008. Since then, he had been operating from Nigeria, expanding his criminal network across multiple continents, including Southeast Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe.
The organization used social media platforms to deceive victims, mostly Koreans and other foreigners, into becoming drug couriers. Targets were lured into fake romantic relationships or investment opportunities. Once manipulated, the victims were tricked into transporting drugs concealed in everyday items such as chocolates and backpacks, often under the guise of “gift delivery.”
The operation gained further attention after a woman from Korea was arrested in Brazil last year while attempting to smuggle cocaine hidden in a depilatory wax package intended for delivery to Cambodia. Over 10 individuals have been identified as couriers in this scheme.
Authorities have been tracking K. Jeff’s network since 2020, with significant breakthroughs in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. These efforts have led to the seizure of large quantities of drugs, including methamphetamine and marijuana, intended for distribution in various countries.
The National Intelligence Service emphasized that as North American drug channels close due to intensified crackdowns, global drug organizations are increasingly targeting Asia, including Korea. Authorities continue to urge citizens to avoid engaging in suspicious online relationships and to refuse any offers to transport goods internationally.