Nigeria, Japan Police Arrest 11 in Cybercrime Crackdown, Recover $33,320

A joint operation between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA) has resulted in the arrest of 11 suspects involved in cybercrimes, including identity theft, romance scams, and computer-related fraud targeting Japanese victims. Authorities recovered $33,320 from the suspects.

The operation followed a report received on April 3, 2024, detailing five cybercrime cases linked to 13 individuals operating from Nigeria. According to Force spokesperson ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the NPF National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Central Bureau and NCB Tokyo, launched an extensive investigation that led to the arrests.

At a press briefing at the NPF National Cybercrime Centre, officials emphasized the strength of international cooperation in tackling cybercrime. Investigators revealed that the suspects used social media platforms, particularly Instagram, to deceive victims into fraudulent romantic relationships. The victims were manipulated into transferring money, which was then converted into cryptocurrency and moved to digital wallets in Nigeria.

Authorities have so far recovered $33,320 and are working to reclaim additional stolen funds while dismantling the syndicate responsible. The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to protecting citizens in both physical and digital spaces, pledging to deploy all available resources and emerging technologies to combat cybercrime effectively.