The International Criminal Police Organisation says it arrested no fewer than 36 suspects for offences bordering on fraud and human trafficking in a coordinated operation with security agencies in Nigeria.

TheNigerian Metro learnt from a statement obtained on the INTERPOL’s website on Monday that the operation also led to the recovery of $3m among other exhibits.

According to the statement, three of the suspects were arrested for alleged sextortion, while the majority of other suspects were arrested for cyber fraud activities.

It read, “In a major blow to organized crime, 12 different Nigerian law enforcement agencies, supported by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL, have launched a sweeping operation that has resulted in the arrests of 36 individuals and seizures worth USD 3 million.

“Following two months of preparation, national authorities carried out increased border checks, targeted raids at identified hotspots and followed up on actionable leads over five operational days.

“Most arrests were made for cyber-enabled fraud and the vast majority of the detained suspects were under the age of 35, reflecting a trend of greater youth involvement in organised crime.

“Among the crimes uncovered, common tactics included ‘romance baiting’, in which criminals cultivate online relationships to manipulate victims into investing or transferring their money; investment and cryptocurrency scams, where perpetrators lure victims into fictitious financial schemes; and celebrity scams, which involve the impersonation of well-known figures to solicit money from fans. Three of the arrests were for sextortion, where the suspects were extorting money from victims to prevent the release of compromising or explicit material.”

The statement also noted that exhibits, including kilogrammes of cocaine, cannabis, cars and ammunition, were recovered during the operation.

“Notable seizures from the operation included 19kg of cocaine, valued at $2.8m; 51kg of cannabis; five cars; two weapons; and 215 rounds of ammunition. The action days also exposed cases of human trafficking, with the identification of 12 victims who had been lured abroad with promises of work but were instead forced into sexual exploitation or forced labour.

“The investigation led to the arrest of a female recruiter, who had posed as a victim to evade detection, and the seizure of USD 16,000 from her account.”

Reacting to the operation, INTERPOL’s acting Executive Director of Police Services, Cyril Gout, stressed the expansionist tendencies of organised criminal groups and the need to combat its global threat.

“West African Organised Crime Groups are considered to be among the most aggressive and expansionist criminal groups for their involvement in a broad range of illegal activities, from people smuggling, human trafficking, extortion and kidnapping to oil theft, cybercrime and money laundering.

“The success of this operation underscores the critical importance of sustained, multi-agency collaboration in disrupting these networks. By working together, at a national and international level we can effectively combat this global threat and bring justice to those affected by these crimes,” Gout said.

The Federal Road Safety Corps, on Wednesday, announced the recovery of 73 stolen vehicles across Nigeria in 2024 through the National Vehicle Identification Scheme portal.

According to the statement signed by the corps spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the achievement was the result of intelligence-driven operations conducted in collaboration with other security agencies.

Ogungbemide noted that the recovered vehicles were intercepted at the point of registration, preventing them from being integrated into the system.

“The 73 stolen vehicles recovered are in the category of four Toyota Highlander, one Toyota Lexus, 21 Toyota Corolla, 17 Toyota Camry, six Toyota Sienna, six Lexus 350, three Lexus ES350, one Toyota Hilux, one Toyota RAV4, one Toyota Celica, one Toyota Venza, one Suzuki Bus, one Honda Pilot, one Honda Ace, two Honda Accord, one Daihatsu, one M/Benz Car, one Man Truck, one Pontiac Vibe and two Qlink motorcycle,” the statement read.

The statement added that the FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, commended the corps’ personnel for their dedication and professionalism in ensuring road safety and security.

He emphasised the importance of accurate vehicle registration details, stating that proper documentation played a crucial role in intelligence gathering and vehicle recovery.

He reiterated the corps’ commitment to making Nigerian roads safer while urging the public to support efforts in crime prevention and road safety management.

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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has arrested the driver of a notorious one-chance syndicate that uses a commercial bus with number plate KSF 56 XL to rob unsuspecting passengers of their valuables.

The agency’s Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed this in a statement on X.com on Tuesday.

It revealed that the arrest occurred along Funsho Williams Avenue in the Surulere area of the state following an incident involving a female passenger, Bibian Emelifonwu, who was a victim of the syndicate while commuting to work on Tuesday morning.

The statement partly read, “Recounting her ordeal, Miss Emelifonwu disclosed that she boarded the bus and sat beside a male passenger holding a nylon bag in the front seat next to the driver. Under the pretext of opening the front door beside her, the man surreptitiously leaned on her and deftly removed her phone from her bag.

“Having successfully executed the theft, the criminals heartlessly ejected her from the moving vehicle onto the highway.”

A team of LASTMA officers in the area who witnessed the incident were said to have immediately pursued the fleeing bus, ultimately apprehending the driver, identified as Toyib Ogunjobi, while his accomplices—the conductor and another passenger—managed to escape.

During interrogation, Ogunjobi reportedly admitted to leading a three-man syndicate, which included the owner of the bus, whom he said was actively involved in their operations.

“He revealed that their modus operandi involved enticing passengers with low fares on the Costain-Ojota route, stealing their belongings, and forcibly ejecting them from the vehicle while in motion,” the statement disclosed.

The suspect was said to have further confessed that the syndicate generated between ₦250,000 and ₦300,000 daily by selling stolen phones and valuables.

He reportedly disclosed that similar one-chance operations are proliferating across Lagos State, illustrating the pervasive nature of this criminal enterprise.

Seven stolen phones, which comprised models such as Techno Pop, Samsung AZZ, Intel A623, Techno Spark, Techno Pounoir, and Samsung devices, were said to have been recovered during the arrest.

In the statement, LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, was said to have lauded the officers for their swift and commendable action, noting that the apprehended driver would be handed over to law enforcement agencies for thorough investigation and prosecution.

He also urged Lagos residents to exercise heightened vigilance when boarding vehicles, emphasising the need for caution not only with commercial buses but also with private vehicles that may harbour ill intent.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) cybercrime unit has recovered N8 billion in 2024.

This is even as the Nigeria Police Force paraded four of the many suspects arrested in 2024.

The four suspects arrested include Douglass Victor, Egbo Efe Martins, Lucky Adesunloye and Ndifreke Joseph Moody.

While parading the suspects, the Force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said, “In the year 2024, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) successfully recovered a staggering N8,821,001,881.80, 115,237.91 USDT, and $84,000.

“These significant amounts have been restituted to the victims of cybercrime, reaffirming the commitment of the Force to protecting citizens and ensuring justice for those affected by fraudulent activities.”

Similarly, in the past year, the cybercrime unit has actively engaged in strategic operations, resulting in the arrests and prosecutions of over 751 individuals involved in cybercrime.

The unit also recovered a total of 685 devices that were used in these nefarious activities, which include 467 mobile phones, 137 laptops and computers, 46 routers, 4 servers, one drone, and four Starlink devices.

“ Additionally, the operations led to the confiscation of 16 houses, 39 plots of land, 14 land documents, and 26 vehicles, further dismantling the infrastructure supporting cybercriminal activities,” the Force PRO stated.

He also added that in recognition of its outstanding performance and dedication, the NPF-NCCC has been awarded the title of the best cybercrime unit in Africa for 2024 by the INTERPOL Cybercrime Directorate based in Singapore, securing the top position among 54 participating African countries.

“These achievements reflect the dedication of the Nigeria Police Force to fighting cybercrime and enhancing the safety of citizens in the digital space,” he added.