The FBI announced that it has arrested nine individuals in Nigeria on charges of international cybercrime. The operation also resulted in the seizure of 53 electronic devices and the identification of approximately $11 million in illicit funds.
The arrests were made in Lagos, where the suspects were reportedly involved in a cross‑border cyber‑fraud scheme that targeted victims in several countries. The FBI’s cybercrime unit said the seized devices were used to facilitate the planning and execution of the attacks.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that the $11 million was recovered from a series of accounts linked to the suspects. The funds were traced to multiple offshore accounts, indicating a sophisticated money‑laundering operation.
While the FBI has not released further details about the individuals or the specific nature of the cyber‑crime activities, the agency has said the operation was part of a broader effort to curb transnational cyber‑crime networks operating out of Nigeria.
Experts note that Nigeria has become a hotspot for cyber‑crime activity in recent years, with a growing number of cases involving phishing, ransomware, and online fraud. The FBI’s intervention is seen as a significant step in disrupting these networks and protecting international victims.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>