The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested nine suspects in Nigeria and seized 53 electronic devices in an operation targeting international cybercrime networks.
FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed this in a post on his official X account on Sunday, adding that the operation led to the identification of $11m in funds that could potentially be frozen across several countries.
The operation, code-named Blackout, was aimed at dismantling criminal networks accused of running online scams against Americans.
Patel said the networks operated across national borders and used scam centres to defraud victims, often depriving them of their life savings.
He commended Nigerian law enforcement agencies and partners in London for their cooperation in the operation.
The FBI director warned that the United States would continue to pursue cybercrime suspects operating from other countries.
“These scam centres exploit innocent victims, steal life savings, and operate across international borders believing they are beyond the reach of law enforcement,” he said.
“They’re wrong. Thanks to Nigerian law enforcement and our partners in London for their outstanding cooperation.
“To the criminals targeting Americans from overseas: JUSTICE WILL FIND YOU.”
The arrests in Nigeria formed part of a wider international crackdown that, according to a separate report, resulted in 28 arrests across Nigeria and Ghana.
The broader operation also led to the takedown of more than 3.7 million scam-linked accounts, pages and groups, and the identification of over 120 trafficked workers.
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