Interpol arrests Nigerian over romance scam in Argentina
By Jeffrey Agbo
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has confirmed the arrest of a wanted Nigerian, identified as Ikechukwu N., by Argentine authorities over his alleged role in a sprawling international cybercrime network.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Tuesday, INTERPOL said Ikechukwu had long been on its wanted list for allegedly masterminding multiple romance scams that defrauded thousands of women across the world.
The agency noted that the arrest marked a historic milestone for Argentina, describing it as the country’s first capture of a Red Notice fugitive who was also the subject of an INTERPOL Silver Notice.
The notice read, “Argentine authorities have captured Nigerian national Ikechukwu N., marking the country’s first arrest of a Red Notice fugitive who was also the subject of an INTERPOL Silver Notice.
“The suspect is accused of orchestrating multiple romance scams involving thousands of women, and leading an international cybercrime network.”
INTERPOL explained that the arrest was part of Operation Jackal, an ongoing global crackdown launched in 2025 to help countries trace and recover criminal assets linked to West African organised crime groups.
“The arrest was part of Operation Jackal, an INTERPOL-coordinated initiative targeting West African organised criminal groups. It was carried out by @PFAOficial and @seguridadpsa, with support from IFCACC, FIS, and INTERPOL Brazil.
“The Silver Notice pilot project, launched in January 2025, aims to help countries trace and recover criminal assets,” the notice added.
In August 2024, Operation Jackal III led to the seizure of over $3 million in illicit assets and the freezing of more than 700 bank accounts linked to the Black Axe mafia’s cybercrime operations.
Similarly, in August 2025, a Nigerian man pleaded guilty in the United States to a romance scam worth over $405,000, further illustrating the global reach of such fraud networks.
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