Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), working with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) and law enforcement agencies in Switzerland, France and Greece, have dismantled a major transnational drug money laundering network linked to hundreds of billions of naira in illicit proceeds.
The coordinated international operation led to the arrest of alleged billionaire drug baron, Amadi Simon, in Switzerland, alongside two suspected female associates in Nigeria.
According to the NDLEA, 34-year-old Jecinta Amara Ikechi was arrested in Anambra State, while 28-year-old Blessing Ngozi Amadi was apprehended in Agbor, Delta State during simultaneous operations carried out on April 28, 2026.
This was disclosed in a statement by the agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Thursday.
The agency said the arrests followed months of intelligence gathering and investigations spanning multiple countries, which linked the suspects to large-scale laundering of proceeds from drug trafficking and other financial crimes across Europe and Nigeria.
NDLEA disclosed that investigators uncovered a sophisticated network allegedly operated by Amadi Simon involving shell companies, front businesses, cryptocurrency wallets, proxy accounts and delegates used to conceal illicit funds.
It was gathered that NDLEA also traced and identified several high-value assets believed to have been acquired with proceeds from the illegal operations.
The properties include Jovi Hotel located at Isiayei Street, GRA Phase 1, Asaba, Delta State; Jovi Hotel and Suites in Agbor, Delta State; and Jovi Apartment at Jamieson Court, Mabushi, Abuja.
The anti-narcotics agency said multiple bank accounts and cryptocurrency addresses linked to the syndicate have been blocked as part of ongoing financial investigations.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against international narcotics trafficking and financial crimes.
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Marwa said the successful operation demonstrated the agency’s “zero-tolerance policy toward crimes that jeopardise the safety of the Nigerian people, the integrity of our national reputation, and the stability of our economy.”
He commended the support of the US-DEA and other international partners, noting that collaboration with foreign agencies has strengthened Nigeria’s anti-drug enforcement capabilities through intelligence sharing, training, tactical operations and provision of critical equipment.
“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 added that Nigeria would not serve as a safe haven for drug traffickers or a destination for laundering criminal proceeds.
The NDLEA said investigations into the syndicate’s operations and assets are ongoing, with additional arrests and asset recovery actions expected.
