US Conducts Operation Against Transnational Criminal Fraud Networks Operated from West Africa

Washington, Oct 13 (KUNA) — The U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced on Tuesday the execution of an operation against transnational criminal fraud networks operating out of West Africa, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from several countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, as well as major private technology companies.

FBI Director Kash Patel, in an interview with the U.S. Fox News network, said, “Thanks to a distinguished partnership with the Department of Justice and across several African countries, we arrested 28 individuals suspected of involvement in criminal activities, seized more than 350 devices, identified potential assets for seizure valued at no less than $11 million, rescued more than 100 workers who fell victim to human trafficking, and identified the identities of more than 100 potential fraud victims here within the country.”

Patel stated in a post on the X platform, “We are not just targeting global fraud networks; we are working to dismantle and completely eradicate them,” noting that the operation prevented “financial losses estimated at approximately $670 million.”

For its part, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement, “Transnational criminal fraud networks operating out of West Africa were dealt strong blows last week (during the Joint Disruption Week), an internationally coordinated effort that resulted in arrests, evidence seizures, and the largest-ever takedown of social media accounts linked to fraud hubs in the region.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Criminal Affairs Tyson C. Dova, in a statement included in the release, said, “Let criminals beware: law enforcement agencies from around the world are working together, in cooperation with the private sector, to track you down, stop your schemes, and bring you to justice.”

Dova expressed his gratitude “to the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom and its Director General, Graeme Biggar, for hosting this effort, as well as to everyone who participated,” and conveyed his appreciation “to the brave law enforcement officers in Ghana and Nigeria who put themselves at risk to gather evidence and arrest criminals targeting innocent people.”

The ministry noted that “the Joint Disruption Week is the first coordinated effort specifically focused on the West Africa region, highlighting the growing global commitment to dismantling increasingly complex and sophisticated transnational fraud networks.”

It added that the operation involved participation from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Fraud Center Task Force of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.), the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security Task Force, the UK’s National Crime Agency, the Nigerian Joint Task Force on Cybercrime, the Nigeria Police Force (National Cybercrime Centre), the Ghana Cyber Security Authority, as well as partners from the private sector.

It pointed out that the list of participants included “law enforcement agencies from Australia, Canada, Ghana, India, and New Zealand, along with Interpol and additional specialized units combating cybercrime,” revealing that several major technology companies “also played a pivotal role.” (End) R.S.R / R.J