Nigerian billionaire baron arrested in Swiss raid as NDLEA seizes assets

A special operations unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), working in coordination with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Lagos Country Office and law enforcement partners from Switzerland, France, and Greece, has successfully dismantled a transnational criminal organisation. The network was involved in drug money laundering operations totaling hundreds of billions of Naira across Europe and Nigeria.

NDLEA media and advocacy director Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Thursday that the multi-country investigation culminated in the coordinated simultaneous arrest of a billionaire drug baron, Amadi Simon, in Switzerland.

Coordinated arrests across multiple jurisdictions

Babafemi revealed that Simon’s co-conspirators, Jecinta Amara Ikechi, 34, in Anambra state, and Blessing Ngozi Amadi, 28, in Agbor, Delta state, were also apprehended on Tuesday 28 April 2026. The arrests followed months of intelligence and investigations across multiple jurisdictions linking Simon to the laundering of hundreds of billions of Naira in proceeds from drug and financial crimes.

In addition to the arrest of the suspects, the NDLEA, in collaboration with its international law enforcement partners, has traced multi-billion-naira assets linked to Simon’s transnational criminal network in Nigeria and abroad.

Complex laundering schemes and asset seizures

“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,” the agency stated.

Properties already identified and linked to Simon as proceeds of illicit drug funds include Jovi Hotel in Asaba, Delta State; Jovi Hotel and Suites in Agbor, Delta State; and Jovi Apartment in Mabushi, Abuja. Several bank accounts and cryptocurrency addresses used by the cartel to conceal illicit funds have also been identified and blocked.

Zero-tolerance policy on financial crimes

Speaking on the coordinated efforts, NDLEA chairman and CEO Buba Marwa said the success of the multi-country and multi-year operations sent a clear message that the agency maintains “a zero-tolerance policy toward crimes that jeopardise the safety of the Nigerian people, the integrity of our national reputation, and the stability of our economy”.

Marwa expressed gratitude for the support received from the US-DEA to dismantle Simon’s network. He added that the US Mission to Nigeria has continued to partner with the agency to combat narcotics trafficking through training in intelligence, evidence collection, case management, and tactical operations.

Strengthening international law enforcement cooperation

The NDLEA chairman assured that the agency would continue to expand its cooperation with the United States and other international partners.

“The NDLEA remains relentless in its pursuit of those involved in narcotics trafficking and associated financial crimes, regardless of where they attempt to hide,” Marwa stated. He emphasised that the agency is committed to ensuring Nigeria is neither a haven for drug traffickers nor a sanctuary for their criminal proceeds.