NIS Arrests 'Romance Scam Drug Organization Boss'

Successful Arrest After Five Years of Tracking
Drugs Worth 97.2 Billion KRW Seized

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) arrested the head of an international drug trafficking organization from Nigeria who distributed drugs using so-called ‘romance scams’ after a five-year investigation. Based on undercover tracking, the NIS successfully apprehended 37 individuals including the drug kingpin and seized 45.6 kg of drugs.

The NIS Transnational Crime Information Center (TCIC) announced on the 20th that, in cooperation with the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), they arrested the international drug organization leader K·Jeff (59) locally on the 13th. K·Jeff had previously been sentenced to one year in prison and deported after committing drug distribution crimes in Korea in 2007.

K·Jeff’s organization established bases in Southeast Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe, expanding its influence by using funds obtained through drug trafficking, romance scams, and investment fraud. They procured drug couriers through romance scams on social networking services (SNS), where they gained the trust of the opposite sex and then extorted money or coerced specific actions. This represents a ‘hybrid crime’ that applies existing criminal methods to new offenses.

K·Jeff’s subordinate members impersonated international organization agents, government officials, and lawyers to approach victims, primarily targeting Koreans and foreigners eligible for visa-free entry into Korea. Victims were lured overseas by lies involving romantic relationships or investment schemes. Last year, a Korean woman in her 50s was caught while traveling from Brazil to Cambodia via Korea with hair removal wax concealing cocaine, having been deceived by a financial fraud scheme.

The NIS conducted undercover tracking for five years to capture the kingpin. Starting with the arrest of a Nigerian organization member residing in Korea who attempted to distribute drugs imported from Ghana in 2021, in cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit, they seized a total of 45.6 kg of drugs (28.4 kg of methamphetamine and 17.2 kg of marijuana, worth approximately 97.2 billion KRW) over seven operations and arrested 37 members including the kingpin.

During the arrest operation, the NIS provided Nigerian authorities with key information such as K·Jeff’s new criminal activities and hideouts. They dispatched international crime agents to the local site and, together with Nigerian officials, raided the drug organization’s base and successfully apprehended the kingpin. The NIS stated, "Due to recent intensified drug crackdowns by the U.S. government, North American drug organizations, whose distribution channels have been blocked, are turning their attention to countries in the Asia-Pacific region including Korea."