The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 21 suspected cybercrime fraudsters and recovered five exotic cars during a sting operation at Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the operation was conducted around 5am on Monday following surveillance and reconnaissance of the suspects’ activities, according to the commission.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the suspects were arrested over allegations of defrauding unsuspecting victims through gift cards, cryptocurrencies and international money transfers.
Oyewale disclosed that preliminary investigations implicated 19 of the 21 suspects, while the remaining two had been released.
“The operation, carried out by 5am, yielded the arrest of twenty-one (21) suspected cybercrime fraudsters and five exotic cars,” the statement read.
“The fraudsters were apprehended professionally owing to diligent pre-arrest surveillance and reconnaissance of the activities of the fraudsters.”
The commission also disclosed that a young woman who allegedly attempted to alert the suspects to the operation through telephone calls was detained, and her phone was confiscated.
According to the EFCC, the woman’s phone was later returned to her after the operation was concluded.
“A young lady that stood in the way of the operation by making telephone calls to alert the fraudsters was held and her phone confiscated until the conclusion of the operation. The phone was later released to her,” Oyewale said.
The commission said the 19 suspects implicated in the preliminary investigation would be arraigned in court, while investigations into the case continue.
“All the indicted suspects will be arraigned in court immediately,” the statement added.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption, urging members of the public to support its efforts.
“While the EFCC continues its crusade and operational dynamics against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption, the public is enjoined to keep faith with it and loudly condemn the activities of fraudsters bringing the nation to disrepute,” the commission said.
