NDLEA, Foreign Agencies Bust International Drug Money Laundering Syndicate

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

A billionaire drug baron and two female kingpins have been arrested in a sweeping international sting operation that dismantled a transnational drug money laundering syndicate operating across Europe and Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said.

The operation, carried out by NDLEA operatives in collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA), as well as law enforcement agencies in Switzerland, France and Greece, led to the arrest of suspected drug cartel leader, Amadi Simon, in Switzerland alongside his alleged accomplices, 34-year-old Jecinta Amara Ikechi in Anambra State and 28-year-old Blessing Ngozi Amadi in Agbor, Delta State.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the coordinated arrests followed months of intelligence gathering and investigations across several countries linking the suspects to the laundering of hundreds of billions of naira derived from drug trafficking and other financial crimes.

The agency disclosed that investigations uncovered an extensive network of shell companies, cryptocurrency wallets, proxy operators and multiple bank accounts allegedly used by the syndicate to conceal illicit proceeds in Nigeria and abroad.

NDLEA said several high-value properties traced to the alleged drug cartel have already been identified, including Jovi Hotel located at Isiayei Street, GRA Phase 1, Asaba, Delta State; Jovi Hotel and Suites along Orikeze Road in Agbor, Delta State; and Jovi Apartment at Jamieson Court, Mabushi, Abuja.

The anti-narcotics agency added that numerousbank accounts and cryptocurrency addresses linked to the syndicate have been identified and blocked as part of efforts to halt the movement of illicit funds.

Reacting to the breakthrough, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the success of the multi-country operation as a strong warning to criminal networks exploiting Nigeria for drug trafficking and money laundering.

He commended the support of the US-DEA and other international partners, noting that the collaboration has strengthened the agency’s capacity in intelligence gathering, evidence collection, tactical operations and case management.

Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to pursuing drug traffickers and financial criminals across borders, stressing that Nigeria would notserve as a safe haven for narcotics cartels or their illicit proceeds.

“The NDLEA remains relentless in its pursuit of those involved in narcotics trafficking and associated financial crimes, regardless of where they attempt to hide,” he said.