NPF-NCC operatives arrest cybercrime suspects

•Recover over 2.5m victims’ email logs
•Trace N3.5bn cryptocurrency proceeds

OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCC) have arrested several suspects linked to sophisticated cybercrime operations, in another success against fraudulent incidents.

The crime operations include a Business Email Compromise (BEC) syndicate with more than 2.5 million victims’ email logs across over 50 countries, an international investment fraud and money laundering network that allegedly moved more than N3.6 billion through cryptocurrency, as well as cases involving sextortion, identity theft, police impersonation and fraud.

Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the centre, AIG Akaninyene Ezima, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking during the maiden NPF-NCC press briefing in Abuja. Ezima said the operations demonstrated the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu to intelligence-led policing, stronger technological capabilities and collaboration with local and international law enforcement partners.

He stated that the centre was strengthening its investigative capabilities, technological capacity and international partnerships in response to the rapidly evolving cybercrime threat landscape.

According to him, the operations resulted in the arrest and investigation of persons suspected of exploiting cyberspace and technology for criminal purposes.

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He explained that the first case, which he described as Operation Broken Mask, involved a sophisticated Business Email Compromise syndicate, investigated in collaboration with the German Federal Police, Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), under the Budapest Convention 24/7 Network.

AIG Ezima further explained that the investigation began after the NPF-NCCC received a preservation request from the BKA on February 17 concerning a flagged Internet Protocol address linked to a sophisticated Business Email Compromise operation.

According to him, through subscriber checks, Bank Verification Number (BVN), and other investigative processes, the person behind the activities was identified as David (surname withheld).

He added that the operation was subsequently authorised by the IGP on June 23, during which the operatives arrested the suspect at his residence in Lekki, Lagos.

He said a search of his residence led to the recovery of digital devices which were subjected to forensic examination.