Billionaire drug baron, 2 female kingpins fall in global sting operation
A multi-country operation involving the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and law enforcement partners from Switzerland, France, and Greece, have successfully dismantled a Transnational Criminal Organization involved in laundering billions of Naira in drugs money across Europe and Nigeria.
The operation led to the simultaneous arrest of 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 April 28, 2026.
“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 NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Thursday.
“In addition to the arrest of the suspects, the NDLEA, in collaboration with its international law enforcement partners, has also traced multi-billion assets linked to Amadi’s transnational criminal network in Nigeria and abroad.
“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 statement, the NDLEA chief executive officer, Buba Marwa, said the success of the operation is a clear message that the agency would not tolerate anything that j”eopardize 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 in dismantling Amadi’s transnational criminal network.
Marwa assured that the NDLEA will continue to expand its cooperation with the United States and other international partners as it relentlessly pursue those involved in narcotics trafficking and associated financial crimes, regardless of where they attempt to hide.
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