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By Lizzy Chirkpi
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in close collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Lagos Country Office and their counterparts from Switzerland, France and Greece, have dismantled a transnational criminal network linked to drug money laundering operations worth hundreds of billions of naira across Europe and Nigeria.
The multi-country investigation led to the arrest of an alleged billionaire drug baron, Amadi Simon, in Switzerland, alongside two alleged associates identified as Jecinta Amara Ikechi, 34, arrested in Anambra State, and Blessing Ngozi Amadi, 28, apprehended in Agbor on April 28, 2026.
According to the NDLEA, the arrests followed months of intelligence gathering and investigations across multiple jurisdictions, which allegedly linked Simon to the laundering of proceeds from drug trafficking and other financial crimes.
The agency disclosed that several high-value assets connected to the syndicate had also been uncovered in Nigeria and abroad. Investigators said the network operated through a web of front and shell companies, cryptocurrency wallets, delegates, and multiple bank accounts used to conceal illicit proceeds.
Among the identified properties allegedly linked to the syndicate are Jovi Hotel, Jovi Hotel and Suites, and Jovi Apartment. Authorities said several bank accounts and cryptocurrency addresses linked to the cartel had been identified and frozen.
Speaking on the operation, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the successful crackdown underscored the agency’s resolve against organised crime.
“The NDLEA maintains a 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,” Marwa stated.
He commended the support of the US-DEA and other international partners in dismantling the network, noting that the U.S. Mission in Nigeria had continued to support the agency through intelligence training, tactical operations, evidence collection, and equipment support.
Marwa further assured that the anti-narcotics agency would continue strengthening cooperation with global law enforcement bodies.
“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,” he added.