Nigerian billionaire arrested abroad for alleged drug laundering worth billions of Naira

Agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a suspected Nigerian billionaire, Amadi Simon, in Switzerland for his alleged involvement in a vast international drug trafficking and money laundering network.

The arrest, made in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and other European security agencies, followed months of coordinated intelligence gathering across multiple jurisdictions.

The NDLEA made this known on Thursday in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, underlining that the operation also led to the arrest of two alleged accomplices in Nigeria.

According to the agency, the suspects include Jecinta Amara Ikechi, 34, arrested in Anambra state, and Blessing Ngozi Amadi, 28, arrested in Agbor, Delta state. The trio was reportedly captured during a series of simultaneous operations on April 28, 2026.

Babafemi said the investigations linked Simon to the laundering of “hundreds of billions of naira” believed to be the proceeds of drug trafficking and other financial crimes.

He explained that the syndicate allegedly ran a sophisticated network involving shell companies, cryptocurrency wallets and multiple bank accounts in several countries to hide illicit funds.

“The multinational investigation culminated in the coordinated arrest of the prime suspect in Switzerland and his accomplices in Nigeria,” the statement said.

As part of the ongoing investigation, the agency said several assets linked to the suspects have 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 several bank accounts and cryptocurrency addresses linked to the network have been frozen to prevent further financial activity.

Chairman of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (ret.) described the operation as a significant step forward in the fight against transnational drug trafficking and illicit financial flows.

He said the success of the operation underlined the importance of international collaboration in fighting organized crime, promising that Nigeria would not serve as a safe haven for drug cartels.

Marwa also praised 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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