The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Interpol

  • Customs hands over two stolen Range Rover SUVs to Interpol 

    Customs hands over two stolen Range Rover SUVs to Interpol 

    The Nigeria Customs  Service(NCS), Tin Can Island Port Command has handed over two suspected stolen Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to Interpol.

    Speaking during the handing over, its Area Controller, Bashar Yusuf, said the interception was sequel to intelligence report from Interpol.

    In a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Uche Ejesieme, said the vehicles loaded in a 40-foot container No. UACN 548368\1 was imported from Washington D.C, United States and declared as Toyota Tundra and Chevrolet Cruiz, and some bicycles.

    The statement added that based on the intelligence report made available to Customs by Interpol, all consignments from the US were placed on high surveillance to ensure that the suspected container was tracked.

    His words: ”The vessel was monitored from the port of loading to Tin Can Island Port and was intercepted on arrival at the Tin Can Island Port.”

    The vehicles are a gold Range Rover SUV 2014 with Chasis No. SALGS2VFGEA126188 and one black Range Rover SUV 2015 with Chasis No. SALGS37FOFA239330.

    According to the image maker, the controller assured Nigerians and the international community of the deep commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to partnering and sharing intelligence with all agencies, both foreign and local, in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration and synergy

    The Controller, Ejesieme said, reiterated the need for Nigerians to desist from acts capable of bringing the country to disrepute, particularly in this era of Information Communication Technology where interception of this nature will be Internet-based.

    He vowed that the Service would resist any attempt by any individual or organisation to use Nigeria for illicit transactions and noted that Interpol Nigeria will subject the vehicles to due diligence investigation through the Courts and will eventually use their internal mechanisms for repatriation of the vehicles to the US.

     

  • Cybercrime: Police to equip Interpol unit

    Cybercrime: Police to equip Interpol unit

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Monday, said efforts were being made to equip the International Police (INTERPOL) unit with what it takes for a better service delivery.

    Idris made this disclosure at the INTERPOL Cybercrime training for Practitioner Investigators from African countries in Abuja on Monday.

    He was represented by Mr Hyacinth Dagala, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.

    The I-G said the training was critical to boosting capacities in the fields of IP crime enquiries, identity fraud, online tracking of suspects, electronic crime scene investigation, among others.

    Idris said that because of the international nature of most cybercrime offences, the police had set up and deployed a dedicated high-tech and cybercrime unit in the INTERPOL in Nigeria.

    In the future, he said the experienced members of the unit would be deployed in the state police commands, where the cybercrime offences were prevalent.

    Idris said that the police had established and maintained a high-tech criminal information system to enable the police to cooperate with other internal law enforcement agencies.

    The police chief urged the participants to avail themselves of the opportunities that the training presented.

    Earlier, the Head of INTERPOL, National Central Bureau, CP Olusshola Subair, said investigating offences in the cyberspace had assumed a major policing requirement in Nigeria and Africa in general.

    “Cyber criminals have enjoyed a long start ahead of law enforcement and inflicted serious injuries on citizens we have sworn to protect.

    “We must in turn develop new ways and methods to adapt to current challenges,” he said.

    He assured that the capacities of the Nigeria Police would soon assume more effective and efficient level.

    In a remark, Mr Wei Tee, the Acting Head of Training unit, Digital Investigating Support-Cybercrime Directorate, Singapore, urged the trainees to come up with good strategies to combat cyber-crime.

    He said that no country could fight cybercrime, which was a transnational crime, without the collaboration of other countries.

    “There is no one country that can fight against this crime by itself, so we encourage all countries to come together,” he said.

    Tee noted that the crime was an uprising trend globally.

    In attendance, were participants from South Sudan, Zambia, Cameroun, Guinea Bissau and Nigeria.

     

  • EFCC, Interpol smash gang over $60m scam

    EFCC, Interpol smash gang over $60m scam

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the International Police (INTERPOL) yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, smashed a global network online swindle syndicate and arrested its ringleader.

    The syndicate was said to have duped victims of $60 million.

    The suspect,  Mike Onyenwe, may face trial with another 38-year old suspect, who has also been picked up.

    Out of the cash, a victim was duped of $15.4million in an operation

    The 40-year old suspect had been coordinating a network of at least 40 individuals across Nigeria, Malaysia and South Africa.

    The 41-man syndicate had conned unsuspecting victims in Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Romania, South Africa, Thailand and the United States.

    The group was said to have specialised in what is called ‘CEO fraud’.

    A joint statement by the EFCC and INTERPOL in Abuja said the ringleader was arrested in Port Harcourt.

    The statement reads: “The head of an international criminal network behind thousands of online frauds has been arrested in a joint operation by INTERPOL and the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “The 40-year-old Nigerian national, known as ‘Mike’, is believed to be behind scams totaling more than $60 million involving hundreds of victims worldwide. In one case a target was conned into paying out $15.4 million.

    “The network compromised email accounts of small to medium businesses around the world including Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Romania, South Africa, Thailand and the US, with the financial victims mainly other companies dealing with these compromised accounts.

    “Heading a network of at least 40 individuals across Nigeria, Malaysia and South Africa which both provided malware and carried out the frauds, the alleged mastermind also had money laundering contacts in China, Europe and the US who provided bank account details for the illicit cash flow.

    “Following his arrest in Port Harcourt, a forensic examination of devices seized by the EFCC showed he had been involved in a range of criminal activities including Business E-mail Compromise (BEC) and romance scams.

    “The main two types of scam run by the 40-year-old targeted businesses were payment diversion fraud – where a supplier’s email would be compromised and fake messages would then be sent to the buyer with instructions for payment to a bank account under the criminal’s control – and ‘CEO fraud’.

    “In CEO fraud, the email account of a high-level executive is compromised and a request for a wire transfer is sent to another employee who has been identified as responsible for handling these requests. The money is then paid into a designated bank account held by the criminal.”

    The statement gave insights into how the EFCC and INTERPOL had been on the trail of ‘Mike’.

    “Mike first came onto the law enforcement radar through a report provided to INTERPOL by Trend Micro, one of its strategic partners at the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore.

    “This, combined with actionable analysis and intelligence from Fortinet Fortiguard Labs in 2015, enabled specialists at the INTERPOL Digital Crime Centre, including experts from Cyber Defense Institute based at the IGCI, and the EFCC to locate the suspect in Nigeria, resulting in his arrest in June.

    “Abdul Chukkol, Head of the EFCC’s Cybercrime Section said the transnational nature of business e-mail compromise made it complex to crack.

    He said the arrest “sent a clear signal that Nigeria could not be considered a safe haven for criminals.”

    He added: “For a long time we have said in order to be effective, the fight against cybercrime must rely on public-private partnerships and international cooperation.

    “The success of this operation is the result of close cooperation between INTERPOL and the EFCC, whose understanding of the Nigerian environment made it possible to disrupt the criminal organization’s network traversing many countries, targeting individuals and companies”

    The Executive Director of the IGC, Noboru Nakatani, warned that BEC poses a significant and growing threat, with tens of thousands of companies victimized in recent years.

    Nakatani said: “The public, and especially businesses, need to be alert to this type of cyber-enabled fraud,”

    “Basic security protocols such as two-factor authentication and verification by other means before making a money transfer are essential to reduce the risk of falling victim to these scams.

    “It is exactly through this type of public and private sector cooperation that INTERPOL will continue to help member countries in bringing cybercriminals to justice no matter where they are.”

    The statement said” the 40-year-old, along with a 38-year-old also arrested by Nigerian authorities, faces charges including hacking, conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

    “Both are currently on administrative bail as the investigation continues.”

  • INTERPOL to arrest Maina over N2.1b pension scam

    INTERPOL to arrest Maina over N2.1b pension scam

    THE International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has issued a “Red Notice” on ex-Pension Reform Task Team Chairman Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, who is believed to be out of the country.

    This will enable relevant security agencies to arrest Maina in any part of the world.

    A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Maina was wanted for his alleged role in the fraudulent biometric contracts through which he and ex-Head of Service Steve Oronsaye and two others allegedly mismanaged over N2 billion pension funds.

    Maina was, on July 21, 2015, charged with Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited at a Federal High Court on a 24-count of procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence.

    Whereas Oronsaye and two others were in court and pleaded not guilty, Maina had been at large.

    However, on July 21 when the court heard the bail applications of the accused, Maina through his counsel, Esther Uzoma, told the court that he was not at large, claiming that the EFCC never invited him.

    Despite his excuse, Maina has not appeared for trial from his alleged hideout.

    Some reports said he was in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). But his sympathisers claimed Maina was still in the country.

    The situation prompted the EFCC to engage the INTERPOL to track him down.

    It was, however, learnt from a top source in EFCC that the INTERPOL issued the notice, which would make his arrest possible in any part of the world.

    The source said: “The INTERPOL has issued a world-wide red alert on Maina. The notice is based on a request from the EFCC, which on November 18, 2015, wrote to the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, seeking his assistance “to issue an INTERPOL Red Alert” on Maina, who was charged to the Federal High Court on July 10, 2015.

    “In a response to the anti-graft agency’s request, Olushola Subair, commissioner of Police, INTERPOL, in a letter dated January 11, 2016, addressed to the Chairman, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, informed the agency that its request had been processed and a notice duly issued by the INTERPOL.

    The letter reads: “Be informed that the bureau has taken necessary action on the wanted fugitive as requested with INTERPOL General Secretariat, Lyon, France. He has been published on the INTERPOL Red Notice accordingly.”

    “The import of the notice is that there is no hiding place anywhere in the world for Maina, who was indicted by the EFCC for fraud and the theft of over N2 billion in pension funds at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

    “He is widely believed to be hiding in the United Arab Emirates. EFCC earlier declared Maina wanted after obtaining a warrant of arrest from court.”

  • Piracy: Navy hands over vessel to InterPol

    The Nigerian Navy has handed over a vessel, MT Itiri, suspected to have aided piracy off Pennington Terminal in Warri, Delta State, to the International Police (InterPol).

    MT Itiri was arrested in January by NNS Ibusa for allegedly conspiring with pirates to hijack another vessel.

    Following directives from naval headquarters, MT Itiri, which was held at the NNS Beecroft in Apapa, Lagos, was handed over to the InterPol Department of the Nigeria Police for further investigation.

    At the hand-over ceremony, the Commanding Officer, NNS Beecroft Commodore Ovenseri Uwadiae said the navy has zero tolerance for illegalities at sea.

    He said: “We are committed to making our waters safe for legitimate business to thrive. The NN is using this medium to warn sea pirates and criminal elements on the nation’s waters to desist from nefarious activities or face the consequences. There will be no hiding place for such elements.

    “We also solicit information from maritime stakeholders and law-abiding citizens, that could lead to the apprehension of those involved in criminal activities in our waters.”

     

     

  • Nyanya blast ‘mastermind’ repatriated from Sudan

    Nyanya blast ‘mastermind’ repatriated from Sudan

    •Police arrest Boko Haram kingpin

    •Sect ‘kills 2,053 civilians in six months’

    The police recorded a major breakthrough  yesterday in the battle against insurgents, with two arrests.

    A Boko Haram suspected  “chief butcher” was arrested in Bauchi State.

    INTERPOL, also yesterday, repatriated the suspected mastermind of the April 14 Nyanyan, Abuja bus station bombing from Sudan where he allegedly fled after the blast which killed no fewer than 71 people.

    Police spokesman Frank Mba said Ogwuche was handed over to the Interpol Unit  by the Sudanese authorities.

    Mba added that the suspect was flown into the country on a special flight from Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. The plane landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 3.00pm.

    The statement said: “Following the conclusion of tortuous legal and diplomatic processes between Nigeria and the Republic of Sudan, the co-mastermind of the Nyanya Motor Park bombing in which scores of citizens died and hundreds wounded, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, was Tuesday, 15th July, 2014 extradited to the country from Sudan where he had taken refuge.

    “It will be recalled that the terror fugitive who had long since been arrested in Sudan following an international red notice issued for his arrest by the Nigeria National Bureau of Interpol, had not been repatriated to the country before now due to some necessary processes involved in transferring suspects from one country to another.

    “Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, while commending the personnel of the Nigeria Police Interpol Unit for a job well done, noted that the successful repatriation of the terror fugitive to Nigeria shows that the global coalition against terrorism championed by Nigeria is beginning to yield the desired result.”

    Mba, also yesterday, said the police arrested Boko Haram “chief butcher” Mohammed Zakari, on Darazo-Baasrika road in Bauchi State.

    The 30-year-old suspect was arrested on Saturday while fleeing security bombardment at the Balmo forest in Bauchi.

    “The suspect, who hails from Kaigamari Village, Daptchari in Darazo Local Government Area, Bauchi State is the self-styled ‘chief butcher’ of the insurgent group at the Balmo forest camp and is linked with the recent slaughter of seven people, including women and children.

    “The suspect who investigation reveals was tutored in the art of insurgency at Gombe Forest under the leadership of a fleeing insurgent, one Abba Taura and moved to Balmo Forest only three months ago, is discovered to have actively participated in the April attack against Customs officers at Kari Town, along Maiduguri Road, Bauchi State.

    “Findings as well as disclosures from the suspect will assist the law enforcement agencies in tracking down some other members of the terror cell,” the statement added.

    The police have called on residents in the affected areas in the state to be on the look out for any suspicious or strange character fleeing from Balmo Forest.

    The police also sought for the understanding and support of members of the public in the counter terrorism campaign embarked upon by the security agencies.

  • Oil theft: Navy hands over ship, suspects to Interpol

    The Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Delta on Thursday handed over a vessel – MV Gare and its crew, all suspected to have been involved in oil theft to the Interpol for further investigation.

    The NNS Delta had on March 26 arrested three crew members for stealing petroleum products from a bigger vessel – MV Karela on the coast of Angola, using MV Gare to hijack the bigger one.

    However, the arrested seamen have challenged their arrest and detention by the navy, suing the nation’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, the Chief of Naval Staff and Commanding Officer of the NNS Delta, to the tune of N100 million.

    Speaking at the handing over exercise, the Commanding Officer of the NNS Delta, Navy Captain Musa Gemu, said the accused persons were involved in a matter that was beyond his control, hence the need to hand both the crew and the ship over to the Interpol.

    “The ship was used to hijack a very bigger ship, MV Karela to siphon about 75 metric tons of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) from the ship about 200 nautical miles off the coast of Angola.

    “MV Karela was carrying products worth $10 million. We saw MV Gare in Nigeria’s waters, precisely in my area of responsibility. We arrested her, did some investigations and found pointers to involvement. But because there is a limit we can go with our investigation, I am today handing the ship and suspects to the police for further investigations,” Gemu explained.

    Interpol Officer, Soji Idowu, while taking custody of the suspects said, “I cannot make any comments now. We just came into the picture. I am barely aware of the details. We have to go back and do our own investigations before we can offer a position.”

     

     

  • Interpol offers help in hunt for Nigerian girls

    Interpol offers help in hunt for Nigerian girls

    International police agency, Interpol, said on Friday it stood ready to provide whatever support might be required in the hunt for more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls in Borno State.

    Secretary General Ronald K. Noble has written to President Goodluck Jonathan offering assistance, an Interpol statement said.

    Support offered includes the immediate publication of so-called Yellow Notices for the girls. These are circulated to all 190 Interpol member countries to assist police worldwide to locate and identify the victims.