The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested nine suspects in Nigeria during an operation aimed at dismantling “international cybercriminal networks stealing billions from Americans”.
In a statement published on X on Sunday, FBI Director Kash Patel said the operation, codenamed “Operation Blackout”, resulted in the seizure of 53 electronic devices.
Patel added that the operation led to the identification of $11 million in “potentially freezable funds identified across multiple countries”.
According to the FBI director, the cybercrime networks prey on innocent victims, stealing their life savings.
“Operation Blackout is taking the fight directly to the international cybercriminal networks stealing billions from Americans,” the statement reads.
“These scam centers exploit innocent victims, steal life savings, and operate across international borders believing they are beyond the reach of law enforcement. They’re wrong.
“Thanks to Nigerian law enforcement and our partners in London for their outstanding cooperation.”
Patel pledged to prosecute criminals who target Americans from outside the country.
In September, South African authorities handed over six Nigerians to FBI officials over allegations that they defrauded more than 100 women through a romance scam scheme.
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 August 2025, the FBI arrested 22 Nigerians over alleged links to financially motivated sextortion schemes associated with a rise in suicides among American teenagers.