The suspect allegedly played a role in smuggling illegal drugs into South Korea and was therefore the subject of the Interpol Red Notice.
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said after his arrest that a high-level delegation of the South Korean intelligence service visited the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja and personally sent a letter to NIS director Taeyong Cho to NDLEA CHO to NDLEA CHO and to NDLEA Chairman Brig Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd).
In the letter, Babafemi said that Cho praised Ndlea’s professionalism and described Ogbonnaya as “a key figure in international drug organizations”, and that his arrest marked a major breakthrough in South Korea’s war on narcotics. ”
He also expressed optimism about stronger bilateral cooperation in the future.
“Kevin Jeff is responsible for smuggling large quantities of narcotics into the Republic of Korea, and New York City (NIS) has been following him for years. Without the valuable collaboration of NDLEA, these long-standing efforts may be futile.”
During the visit, NIS officials Choi Youngwan and Kim Juseok formally demanded that Ogbonnaya be extradited to South Korea face unresolved drug trafficking charges.
The response of NDLEA boss Marwa reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global anti-drug cooperation and assured the North Korean delegation that extradition requests would be considered in accordance with Nigerian law and existing bilateral agreements.
“We are happy to work with you and serve you. At any time, you can count on us to work with you and work towards a non-toxic world,” he said.
He also thanked the South Korean government for donating important equipment to NDLEA, noting that such support will enhance the agency’s operations.
Marwa expressed interest in potential training opportunities for NDLEA personnel in South Korea, saying it was a welcome development for the expanding cooperation between the two countries.
