Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a suspected Nigerian billionaire, Amadi Simon, in Switzerland over his alleged involvement in a sprawling international drug trafficking and money laundering network.
The arrest, carried out in collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and other European security agencies, followed months of coordinated intelligence gathering across multiple jurisdictions.
The NDLEA disclosed this in a statement on Thursday by its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, noting that the operation also led to the arrest of two alleged accomplices in Nigeria.
According to the agency, the suspects include 34-year-old Jecinta Amara Ikechi, apprehended in Anambra State, and 28-year-old Blessing Ngozi Amadi, arrested in Agbor, Delta State. The trio was reportedly picked up during a series of simultaneous operations on April 28, 2026.
Babafemi said investigations linked Simon to the laundering of “hundreds of billions of naira” believed to be proceeds of drug trafficking and other financial crimes.
He explained that the syndicate allegedly operated a sophisticated network involving shell companies, cryptocurrency wallets and multiple bank accounts across several countries to conceal illicit funds.
“The multi-country investigation culminated in the coordinated arrest of the principal suspect in Switzerland and his associates in Nigeria,” the statement said.
As part of the ongoing probe, the agency said several assets tied to the suspects had been identified and secured. The properties include hotels in Asaba and Agbor, Delta State, as well as an apartment complex in Mabushi, Abuja.
The NDLEA added that multiple bank accounts and cryptocurrency addresses connected to the network had been frozen to prevent further financial activity.
Chairman of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the operation as a significant breakthrough in the fight against transnational drug trafficking and illicit financial flows.
He said the success of the operation underscored the importance of international collaboration in tackling organised crime, vowing that Nigeria would not serve as a safe haven for drug cartels.
Marwa also commended the support of the US-DEA and other foreign partners, noting that intelligence sharing played a critical role in dismantling the alleged criminal network.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intensifying efforts against drug-related crimes and strengthening partnerships with global enforcement bodies.
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