In a major blow to organised 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 $3 million.
The operation (23-27 September 2024) brought together Nigerian authorities for a first-of-its-kind inter-agency initiative.
Nigerian law enforcement agencies and criminal justice stakeholders working on a broad range of crime areas were involved in the operation, including financial crime and cybercrime, as well as drug and human trafficking.
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 most detained suspects were under 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.
Notable seizures from the operation included 19kg of cocaine, valued at $2.8 million; 51kg of cannabis; five cars; two weapons; and 215 rounds of ammunition.
The operation 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 $16,000 from her account.
During the operation, coordinated by INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau and AFRIPOL’s National Liaison Office in Abuja, officers from both INTERPOL and AFRIPOL were deployed to support criminal intelligence analysis, assist operation coordination and facilitate crosschecks against databases.
The success of this operation was driven by the collaborative efforts among Nigerian law enforcement agencies, justice stakeholders and the partnership between AFRIPOL and INTERPOL.
Cyril Gout, INTERPOL’s Acting Executive Director of Police Services, noted that 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.
Ambassador Jalel Chelba, Acting Executive Director of AFRIPOL, added that the operation’s success “demonstrates the profound impact of coordinated efforts between national and international law enforcement bodies.”
Chelba said, “AFRIPOL is dedicated to fostering partnerships that bridge the gaps in intelligence sharing and operational coordination, ensuring a united front against the complexities of transnational organized crime.
“This landmark initiative in Nigeria not only strengthens national capacities but also exemplifies the collective resolve of African member states to combat evolving criminal threats.”
