Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, working in collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, US-DEA, and law enforcement agencies from Switzerland, France and Greece, have dismantled a transnational criminal organisation allegedly involved in laundering proceeds of drug trafficking and other financial crimes across Europe and Nigeria.
The operation led to the arrest of a suspected Nigerian billionaire drug baron, Amadi Simon, in Switzerland.
Two suspected female accomplices, 34-year-old Jecinta Amara Ikechi and 28-year-old Blessing Ngozi Amadi, were also arrested in Nigeria during coordinated operations carried out on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying Ikechi was arrested in Anambra State, while Blessing Amadi was apprehended in Agbor, Delta State.
According to the agency, the arrests followed months of intelligence gathering and investigations across multiple jurisdictions.
Babafemi said the investigation linked Amadi and his alleged co-conspirators to the laundering of hundreds of billions of naira suspected to be proceeds of drug trafficking and financial crimes.
“The multi-country investigation into the drug money laundering operations culminated in the well-coordinated simultaneous arrest of a billionaire drug baron, Amadi Simon in Switzerland and his co-conspirators: 34-year-old Jecinta Amara Ikechi, in Anambra state, and 28-year-old Blessing Ngozi Amadi in Agbor, Delta state on Tuesday 28th April 2026.
“This followed months of intelligence and investigations across multiple jurisdictions linking Amadi to the laundering of hundreds of billions of Naira in proceeds of drug and financial crimes,” the statement read.
The NDLEA said the syndicate allegedly operated a complex financial network through shell companies, proxies, cryptocurrency wallets and multiple bank accounts across different countries to move, conceal and disguise illicit funds.
The anti-narcotics agency also said investigators traced several high-value properties in Nigeria allegedly linked to the suspect and his associates.
The properties include Jovi Hotel at 1 Isiayei Street, GRA Phase 1, Asaba, Delta State; Jovi Hotel and Suites at 4 Orikeze by Deeper Life Road, Agbor, Delta State; and Jovi Apartment at Jamieson Court, Mabushi, Abuja.
Babafemi added that multiple bank accounts and cryptocurrency addresses allegedly used by the network to move and conceal funds had been identified and frozen as part of the ongoing investigation.
Reacting to the development, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against international drug trafficking and associated financial crimes.
Marwa said the operation sent a clear message that Nigeria would not serve as a safe haven for drug cartels or illicit financial networks.
“The NDLEA remains relentless in its pursuit of those involved in narcotics trafficking and associated financial crimes, regardless of where they attempt to hide,” Marwa stated.
He commended the US-DEA and other international partners for their support, noting that the collaboration strengthened intelligence sharing, evidence gathering, case management and tactical operations.
Marwa assured that the agency would continue to deepen cooperation with global partners to combat transnational organised crime and protect Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
