Metro
NDLEA arrests billionaire drug baron in Switzerland
Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in close coordination with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, Lagos Country Office, and law enforcement partners from Switzerland, France, and Greece, have successfully dismantled a transnational criminal organization involved in drug money laundering operations running into hundreds of billions of naira across Europe and Nigeria.
The multi-country investigation into the drug money laundering operations culminated in the simultaneous arrest of a 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 Tuesday 28th April 2026.
This was announced in a statement on Thursday by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.
Babafemi disclosed that 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.
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.
Also, 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.
Speaking on the coordinated efforts of the NDLEA, the United States DEA, and other international partners, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) said the success of the multi-country and multi-year operations has sent a clear message that the NDLEA maintains “a zero-tolerance policy toward crimes that jeopardize 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 crack and dismantle Amadi’s transnational criminal network, adding 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 as well as the provision of critical equipment.
He assured that NDLEA will 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,” he said.
The Gombe State Police Command has arrested eight young men for allegedly stealing mobile phones and using them to obtain loans through the victims’ devices.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
The statement said the case began after residents of Wuro Birji community in Akko Local Government Area reported that their mobile phones had been stolen.
Police alleged that the suspects used the stolen phones to access the victims’ bank accounts, from which they withdrew N296,790. They also allegedly obtained instant loans amounting to N205,205 using the victims’ information.
The statement further revealed that investigations led to the arrest of 19-year-old Mustapha Kabiru, a Computer Science student at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Kaltungo.
According to the police, information obtained during the investigation led to the arrest of seven additional suspects, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals believed to be connected to the crime.
The Police in Cross River State have confirmed that a man named Charles Ekuma Eze, 36, in Ikom in central part of the state was stabbed with a dagger following an argument with one Micheal Ndifon, 42.
The incident happened at Etayip community in Ikom Town, Ikom LGA over the weekend.
However, the circumstances surrounding the incident were still unclear at this time.
According to ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, the PPRO, the victim was rushed to Holy Family Hospital, Ikom, for treatment and was later referred to Ebonyi State Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor while receiving treatment.
Akata explained that the Task Force Chairman and Youth Leader of Asse-Asin Community in Ikom LGA, Ndifon Nkang and Felix Agbor, respectively, reported the matter to their Ikom Police Division over the weekend.
“The Task Force Chairman and Youth Leader of Asse-Asin Community reported that on the same date at about 1746hrs, the suspect, Micheal Ndifon, allegedly stabbed one Charles Ekuma Eze, with a dagger on his right rib during an argument,” he said.
Akata confirmed that the corpse has been deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy, confirming that the suspect has been arrested.
“We’ve also recovered the suspected murder weapon as an exhibit. Investigation is ongoing, and the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation”, Akata said.
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Nigerian troops have recovered 50 rustled cattle after foiling a cattle rustling operation in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The incident was contained in a post shared on X by security analyst, Zagazola Makama on Sunday.
According to the post, troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Kankomi acted on a distress call received at about 9:55 a.m. on Friday over the activities of suspected cattle rustlers in Ungwan Gontu community.
Security sources quoted by Makama said the troops swiftly moved to the area and laid an ambush for the fleeing suspects.
“The operation led to a confrontation, forcing the suspected rustlers to abandon the stolen livestock and flee into the surrounding bush.
“The troops later recovered 50 rustled cattle, which were identified and handed over to their rightful owner,” Makama wrote.
Military sources said security operatives are continuing efforts to track down the fleeing suspects and recover any remaining stolen animals.
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