The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested nine suspects in Nigeria and recovered 53 electronic devices in a joint operation targeting international cybercrime networks accused of defrauding Americans of billions of dollars.
The operation, code-named Operation Blackout, also uncovered approximately $11 million in funds across several countries that authorities identified as potentially eligible for freezing.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the development in a post on X on Sunday, commending Nigerian law enforcement agencies and their counterparts in London for their cooperation.
He said the operation was aimed at dismantling scam centres and international criminal networks responsible for stealing victims’ life savings.
According to Patel, the syndicates operate across national borders, exploiting innocent people while believing they can evade law enforcement.
He warned that the FBI would continue pursuing individuals involved in cybercrime, including those operating outside the United States.
The latest arrests come amid increased cooperation between Nigerian and American authorities over alleged online fraud and other cyber-related offences.
In September, South African authorities handed over six Nigerians to FBI officials over allegations that they participated in romance scams that defrauded more than 100 women.
Similarly, in August, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) extradited two Nigerians to the United States over allegations of online sexual exploitation and sextortion involving two teenage boys who later died by suicide.
In another case, the FBI arrested 22 Nigerians in August 2025 over alleged involvement in financially motivated sextortion schemes linked to the growing number of suicides among American teenagers.
The latest operation underscores the continuing efforts by law enforcement agencies across countries to investigate and prosecute cybercrime networks operating across international borders.