Police arraign 113 foreign nationals for cybercrime
No fewer than 113 foreign nationals are being prosecuted following their arrest by the Police National Cybercrime Center (NCCC) for their involvement in cybercrime activities.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, while confirming the development, said arrests were made on November 3, 2024, in Jahi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Vanguard reports that the arrested suspects were found with a range of digital equipment believed to be used in their cybercriminal operations. Items seized include a Black Toyota Tundra vehicle, multiple laptops, smartphones, tablets, desktops, routers from MTN, Huawei, Airtel, D-Link, and Starlink, gaming consoles such as a Sony PlayStation 5, as well as high-capacity servers, drones, and specialized cybercrime equipment. Also recovered were international passports, identity cards, SIM cards from various service providers, and travel documents.
“These assets are suspected to have been used for unauthorized data breaches, marketing scams, and other illegal activities within the cybercrime ecosystem,” the IGP stated. He emphasized the growing global threat posed by cybercriminal syndicates that operate across borders, noting the scale and sophistication of the operation.
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In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, it was confirmed that the suspects have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja, facing charges such as computer-related fraud, unlawful data access, marketing scams, money laundering, conspiracy, and illegal immigration.
The IGP further commended the NCCC, as well as the Police operatives attached to Zone 7 Command, for their role in dismantling this international cybercrime ring, which is also linked to human trafficking networks.
“We will continue to combat cybercrime and other forms of transnational criminal activity, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable under Nigerian law,” Egbetokun added.
Source: Vanguard newspaper
