The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, has dismantled a transnational criminal syndicate accused of laundering drug proceeds worth hundreds of billions of naira across Europe and Nigeria.
The disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.
The operation led to the arrest of alleged billionaire drug baron Amadi Simon in Switzerland alongside two suspected female kingpins in Nigeria, while authorities also traced and blocked multiple assets, bank accounts, and cryptocurrency wallets linked to the network.
The coordinated crackdown underscores the growing sophistication of international drug trafficking networks and Nigeria’s increasing role in global anti-narcotics enforcement partnerships.
What they are saying
According to the NDLEA, operatives from its Special Operations Unit worked closely with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Lagos Country Office, as well as law enforcement agencies in Switzerland, France, and Greece, to dismantle the transnational criminal organization after months of intelligence gathering and coordinated investigations.
The agency described the operation as one of its largest international financial crime breakthroughs in recent years.
- “Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in close coordination with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Lagos Country Office, and law enforcement partners from Switzerland, France, and Greece, have successfully dismantled a Transnational Criminal Organization involved in drug money laundering operations running into hundreds of billions of Naira across Europe and Nigeria.”
The multi-country sting operation culminated in the simultaneous arrest of Simon in Switzerland, 34-year-old Jecinta Amara Ikechi in Anambra State, and 28-year-old Blessing Ngozi Amadi in Agbor, Delta State, on April 28, 2026.
Investigators said the syndicate operated a complex money laundering system involving shell companies, proxy operators, traditional banking channels, and cryptocurrency platforms to conceal illicit proceeds from narcotics trafficking.
More insights
NDLEA and its international partners also traced several high-value assets linked to the syndicate, including Jovi Hotel in Asaba, Jovi Hotel and Suites in Agbor, and Jovi Apartments in Abuja, all believed to have been acquired with proceeds from drug trafficking and related financial crimes.
- Authorities have since identified and blocked several bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets connected to the network.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the operation demonstrated the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on narcotics trafficking and financial crimes.
- Marwa stated that the crackdown sends a strong message that Nigeria will not serve as a safe haven for international drug traffickers or money laundering operations.
- He emphasized that strategic cooperation with global enforcement agencies remains critical in tackling increasingly sophisticated transnational criminal organizations.
- He also commended the support of the U.S. DEA and other foreign agencies for intelligence sharing, tactical operations, and operational support.
The agency assured that investigations remain ongoing as authorities continue efforts to dismantle the syndicate’s remaining financial and operational structures.
What you should know
Recent NDLEA operations across Nigeria reflect an intensified nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks, major kingpins, and illicit financial systems. The agency has increasingly combined intelligence-led operations with international cooperation to disrupt large-scale narcotics enterprises.
- In April 2026, NDLEA raided three illicit drug warehouses in Lagos, seizing opioids worth N16.9 billion.
- The agency recorded 974 drug-related convictions nationwide in the first quarter of 2026, including 11 major drug kingpins sentenced to a combined 254 years in prison.
Earlier this year, NDLEA intercepted significant volumes of Captagon, tramadol, and codeine shipments across multiple Nigerian states.
Previous large-scale operations have included the seizure of cocaine, opioids, and cannabis valued at hundreds of billions of naira.
The latest global syndicate bust highlights NDLEA’s expanding operational reach and its commitment to combating organized drug trafficking, financial crimes, and cross-border criminal enterprises.
