Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), working in close collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Lagos Country Office and law enforcement agencies from Switzerland, France and Greece, have dismantled a transnational criminal organisation allegedly involved in drug money laundering operations running into hundreds of billions of Naira across Europe and Nigeria.
The multi-country operation culminated in the coordinated arrest of an alleged billionaire drug baron, Amadi Simon, in Switzerland, alongside two of his alleged accomplices identified as Jecinta Amara Ikechi and Blessing Ngozi Amadi in Anambra and Delta states respectively.
According to the NDLEA, the arrests carried out on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, followed months of intelligence gathering and investigations spanning multiple jurisdictions which allegedly linked Amadi Simon to the laundering of proceeds from drug trafficking and other financial crimes.
The agency disclosed that investigations uncovered an extensive criminal network allegedly operating through front and shell companies, delegated financial channels, pass-through structures, as well as multiple traditional banking and cryptocurrency accounts used to conceal illicit proceeds.
Properties already traced to the alleged syndicate include Jovi Hotel, Jovi Hotel and Suites and Jovi Apartment.
The NDLEA further revealed that several bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets allegedly linked to the cartel and used to conceal hundreds of billions of Naira have been identified and blocked as part of the ongoing crackdown.
Speaking on the operation, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the success of the multi-country and multi-year investigation as a strong signal of the agency’s resolve to combat organised drug crimes and illicit financial activities.
Marwa stated that the operation demonstrates the NDLEA’s “zero-tolerance policy toward crimes that jeopardize the safety of the Nigerian people, the integrity of our national reputation, and the stability of our economy.”
He commended the support and collaboration of the United States DEA and other international partners in dismantling the criminal network, noting that the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has continued to support the agency through intelligence sharing, tactical training, evidence management and operational support.
According to him, the NDLEA remains committed to strengthening international cooperation in the fight against narcotics trafficking and associated financial crimes.
“The NDLEA remains relentless in its pursuit of those involved in narcotics trafficking and associated financial crimes, regardless of where they attempt to hide. Built upon a foundation of strategic partnership, unwavering integrity, and dedicated professionalism, the NDLEA is committed to ensuring that Nigeria is neither a haven for drug traffickers who profit from illicit substances nor a sanctuary for their criminal proceeds,” Marwa stated.
By Folake Sokoya
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