Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested three alleged members of a cybercrime syndicate and recovered suspected counterfeit $100 notes and other incriminating items.
The suspects, Tega Emmanuel, 24; Jacob Olatunde, 33, and Gift Okubakpere, 36, were arrested during an intelligence-led operation along the Lekki-Ajah axis of Lagos, reports The Nation.
Police said Emmanuel was first intercepted on Chevron Drive while driving a Porsche. A search of his residence later led to the arrest of the two other suspects.
During interrogation, Emmanuel reportedly confessed to coordinating cyber fraud, including romance scams and creation of fraudulent accounts.
Olatunde allegedly handled financial transactions and collection of illicit proceeds, while Okubakpere managed cryptocurrency-related scams carried out through Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram and online banking platforms.
Items recovered from the suspects include three HP laptops, one Apple MacBook, two MacBook tablets, nine iPhones, six international passports, vehicle and dealer number plates.
Others are military camouflage, a mini printer, a toy pistol, 98 pieces of suspected counterfeit $100 notes, and substances suspected to be Cannabis.
Police said investigations were ongoing to verify the suspected counterfeit currency and drugs, while efforts were underway to arrest other members of the syndicate.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, assured that the suspects would be prosecuted at the end of investigations, adding that efforts were one to apprehend fleeing members of the gang.
