Police busts money-laundering networks linked to $2 million fraud, arrests eight

The Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre dismantled an online investment fraud and romance-scam syndicate, along with a money-laundering network linked to more than $2 million stolen from victims abroad. Assistant Inspector General Akaniyene Ezima said intelligence from the UK National Crime Agency led to the arrest of four suspects in October 2026 in Agbor and Okpanam, Delta State. The suspects allegedly used fake identities on social media to lure victims in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia to fraudulent investment sites; crypto assets worth $15,900 were recovered. The report also names Godwin Umerin, accused of defrauding an Indonesian citizen, and Delta State University student Edema Bright, suspected of sextortion and cryptocurrency fraud; the headline reports eight arrests in total.