The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has confirmed the arrest of a wanted Nigerian national, identified as Ikechukwu N., by Argentine authorities. He was apprehended for allegedly orchestrating massive romance scams and leading an international cybercrime network.
Details of the Arrest Operation
INTERPOL announced the arrest on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, revealing that Ikechukwu N. was a Red Notice fugitive and the first person ever arrested in Argentina under INTERPOL’s new Silver Notice pilot project.
The suspect faces charges of:
- Orchestrating multiple romance scams that allegedly defrauded thousands of women.
- Leading an international cybercrime network.
The arrest was executed by Argentine federal police agencies, including the Argentine Federal Police (PFAOficial), as part of Operation Jackal. This INTERPOL-coordinated initiative, which began in 2025, specifically targets West African organized criminal groups and aims to help countries trace and recover illicit assets.
Ongoing International Crackdown
Ikechukwu N.’s capture follows an ongoing global effort to dismantle sophisticated cyber-enabled criminal networks operating from West Africa, including recent arrests across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
These operations have yielded significant results:
- Operation Jackal III (August 2024) led to the seizure of $3 million in illicit assets and the freezing of over 700 bank accounts, aiming to dismantle the cybercrime arm of groups like the Black Axe mafia.
- The cases illustrate a clear pattern of transnational cybercrime where syndicates target vulnerable victims through sophisticated romance fraud schemes.
The use of the Silver Notice pilot program highlights INTERPOL’s sustained focus on leveraging international cooperation to not only arrest fugitives but also to disrupt the financial mechanisms of these cybercrime syndicates globally.
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