By Ayo Kehinde
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has arrested a Nigerian national in Argentina for his alleged role in a global romance scam syndicate that defrauded thousands of victims across multiple countries.
The suspect, identified as Ikechukwu N., was apprehended in Buenos Aires during a coordinated operation involving the Argentine Federal Police, the Airport Security Police, and INTERPOL.
According to INTERPOL, Ikechukwu was wanted for allegedly leading an organised cybercrime network that targeted women through online romance scams. The group reportedly lured victims into emotional relationships before defrauding them of large sums of money.
The arrest formed part of Operation Jackal, a sweeping crackdown on West African organised crime groups engaged in cyber fraud and money laundering. The operation was supported by INTERPOL Brazil, the International Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC), and Argentina’s Federal Intelligence Secretariat.
Authorities said the Nigerian suspect is the first fugitive in Argentina to be listed under both a Red Notice, which alerts member countries to wanted persons, and a Silver Notice, a new INTERPOL tool introduced in 2025 to trace and recover criminal assets.
While officials have not disclosed the total financial losses incurred, investigators confirmed that thousands of women across different countries fell victim to the elaborate romance scheme.
The suspect is expected to face prosecution in Argentina, as law enforcement agencies continue efforts to identify his accomplices and recover proceeds from the fraud.
INTERPOL noted that the case highlights the growing menace of cyber-enabled romance scams and underscores the critical role of international cooperation in dismantling transnational criminal networks.
