By Our Reporter
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, in collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and European security agencies, have arrested an alleged Nigerian billionaire drug trafficker, Amadi Simon, in Switzerland over a suspected international drug money laundering network.
The NDLEA disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesman, Femi Babafemi.
According to the agency, the arrest followed months of intelligence gathering and investigations spanning multiple countries, which allegedly linked the suspect to the laundering of hundreds of billions of naira derived from drug trafficking and other financial crimes.
The agency said the operation also led to the arrest of two alleged accomplices — 34-year-old Jecinta Amara Ikechi in Anambra State and 28-year-old Blessing Ngozi Amadi in Agbor, Delta State — during coordinated raids carried out on April 28, 2026.
NDLEA investigators alleged that the syndicate operated an elaborate financial network used to conceal and transfer proceeds from drug trafficking through shell companies, cryptocurrency wallets, and multiple bank accounts spread across different countries.
The agency also traced several luxury properties in Nigeria allegedly connected to the network, including Jovi Hotel in Asaba, Jovi Hotel and Suites in Agbor, Delta State, and Jovi Apartment in Mabushi, Abuja.
According to the statement, bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets linked to the operation have been frozen as investigations continue.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against international drug trafficking and financial crimes.
Marwa said the agency would continue working with international partners to prevent Nigeria from becoming a safe haven for drug cartels and illicit financial operations.
He also commended the support of the US-DEA and other foreign security agencies, noting that intelligence sharing and coordinated international operations were crucial to dismantling the alleged criminal network.