A Nigerian drug kingpin led a sophisticated operation with bases across Southeast Asia, Africa, Korea, America, and Europe, using romance and investment scams to trick people into smuggling drugs. Victims, deceived by fake romantic or investment offers, unknowingly transported drugs hidden in backpacks, groceries, or confectionary, believing they were simply delivering gifts.
One victim, a Korean woman in her 50s, was caught last year while attempting to transport shaving wax containing cocaine from Brazil to Cambodia via Korea. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed ten other victims, including foreigners.
The kingpin, known as “K Jeff,” was deported from Korea in 2008 after serving a prison sentence for leading a drug trafficking ring. Since then, he continued to source drugs from Korea, Central America, and Southeast Asia, smuggling them into Korea and beyond from Nigeria.
Korean authorities first uncovered the operation in 2021, tracing the scheme to this drug lord. The NIS has confiscated 45.6 kilograms of drugs, including 28.4 kg of methamphetamine, and arrested 38 members of the group. The agency is now warning people to be cautious of online requests to deliver items overseas.
