INTERPOL arrests two suspects in Nigeria over $2.4m fraud - Punch Newspapers
The International Criminal Police Organisation has arrested two suspects in Nigeria in separate investigations into cybercrime, including an international investment fraud scheme linked to more than $2.4m in suspected criminal proceeds.
The arrests were disclosed in a statement regarding Operation Serengeti III, a cybercrime enforcement operation coordinated between June 29 and August 31, 2026. Law enforcement agencies from 21 countries participated in this international effort targeting cyber-enabled fraud, ransomware, business email compromise, online scams and digital extortion.
According to INTERPOL's statement, Nigerian authorities arrested one suspect linked to a large-scale phishing and business email compromise operation that harvested software credentials and amassed approximately 2.1 million email addresses. Investigators also recovered a luxury vehicle suspected to have been purchased with criminal proceeds.
In a separate investigation, Nigerian authorities arrested another suspect over an international investment fraud scheme promoted through messaging applications. Financial investigations linked the scheme to the movement of more than $2.4m in suspected criminal proceeds, much of which was allegedly laundered through cryptocurrency transactions.
Global Operation Results
Operation Serengeti III resulted in significant outcomes, with authorities arresting 1,462 suspects, disrupting 10,909 malicious networks and recovering more than $105m in illicit funds. Authorities also identified 65,929 victims targeted by cybercriminal networks, with financial investigations linking criminal activities to losses exceeding $385m.
Operation Serengeti III reinforces a clear message: while cybercrime is increasingly borderless, international cooperation remains one of the most effective tools for disrupting criminal networks, recovering criminal assets and protecting communities from digital harm.
Ongoing Investigations
The statement added that several investigations arising from the operation remain active, with authorities continuing efforts to identify additional suspects, trace illicit proceeds and analyze seized digital evidence. Nigeria participated alongside 20 other countries including Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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