AUTHORITIES in Argentina have arrested a Nigerian man identified as Ikechukwu N. for allegedly masterminding a series of international romance scams that defrauded thousands of women.
According to Interpol, the suspect was on both the organisation’s Red Notice and Silver Notice lists before his arrest — the first of its kind in Argentina.
The operation, carried out by the Argentine Federal Police in collaboration with the Airport Security Police, was part of Operation Jackal, an Interpol-led initiative targeting West African organised crime groups.
In a statement released yesterday, Interpol said the Nigerian national is accused of leading a sophisticated cybercrime network that used online romance schemes to exploit victims globally.
“Argentine authorities have captured Nigerian national Ikechukwu N., marking the country’s first arrest of a Red Notice fugitive who was also the subject of an INTERPOL Silver Notice,” the organisation said.
The Silver Notice, launched in January 2025, is a new Interpol initiative designed to help countries trace and recover criminal assets.
Interpol confirmed that the operation received support from its Financial Crimes Coordination Centre (IFCACC), the International Financial Security (FIS) unit, and Interpol Brazil.
The arrest marks a major milestone in global efforts to curb cyber-enabled financial crimes linked to transnational syndicates operating across Africa, Europe, and South America.