The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Lagos Country Office, and law enforcement partners from Switzerland, France, and Greece, have busted a Transnational Criminal Organization involved in drug money laundering operations running into hundreds of billions of Naira in Europe and Nigeria.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this on its verified Facebook page on Thursday
Babafemi said investigation into the drug money laundering operations cutting the countries culminated in the 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 April 28th, 2026.
He said “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 agency revealed that it collaborated with its international law enforcement partners to trace multi-billion assets linked to Amadi’s transnational criminal network in Nigeria and abroad, adding that “his operations in Nigeria included a complex scheme of front and shell companies; pass-throughs and delegates; and the use of numerous traditional and cryptocurrency accounts to conceal and launder illicit funds.
“Properties already identified and linked to Amadi Simon as proceeds of illicit drug funds include: Jovi Hotel at 1 Isiayei Street GRA Phase1, Asaba, Delta State; Jovi Hotel and Suites at 4 Orikeze by Deeper Life Road, Agbor, Delta State; as well as Jovi Apartment at Jamieson Court Mabushi, Abuja; while several bank accounts and crypto currency addresses used by the cartel to conceal hundreds of billions of illicit funds have also been identified and blocked.”
According to the Babafemi, the NDLEA, Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) said the success of the multi-country and multi-year operations has sent a clear message that 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.”
He expressed gratitude for the support received from the US-DEA to crack and dismantle Amadi’s transnational criminal network, adding that the U.S. Mission to Nigeria has continued to partner with the Agency to combat narcotics trafficking through training in intelligence, evidence collection, case management, and tactical operations as well as the provision of critical equipment. He assured that NDLEA will continue to expand its cooperation with the United States and other international partners.
“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.
