Nine people have been arrested in Nigeria in a United States-led crackdown on international online fraud, according to Kash Patel, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Patel has led the FBI since February 2025.
The FBI is the main federal law enforcement agency of the United States.
He said the operation also led to the seizure of 53 electronic devices.
In addition, it identified $11 million in funds that could be frozen across several countries.
Patel shared the details in a post on his official X account on Sunday.
He described the effort as part of work to dismantle international criminal networks that defraud Americans online.
“Operation Blackout is taking the fight directly to the international cybercriminal networks stealing billions from Americans,” Patel wrote.
“Our latest operation in Nigeria delivered: nine arrests, 53 electronic devices seized, and $11 million in potentially freezable funds identified across multiple countries,” he added.
Scam Centres Across Borders
The FBI director said the networks work across national borders and use scam centres to exploit victims.
Scam centres are sites where criminal groups run online fraud, sometimes using trafficked workers.
Patel described them as criminal operations that exploit victims and target Americans through international fraud schemes.
His statement did not name the suspects or say when the arrests took place.
The figures come from his own posts on X.
Partners in London also took part, he said.
Operation Blackout is the bureau’s campaign against global scam centres.
“These scam centres exploit innocent victims, steal life savings, and operate across international borders believing they are beyond the reach of law enforcement,” he said.
“They’re wrong. Thanks to Nigerian law enforcement and our partners in London for their outstanding cooperation.”
Patel warned that the United States would keep pursuing cybercriminals wherever they operate.
“To the criminals targeting Americans from overseas: JUSTICE WILL FIND YOU,” he added.
Six Most-Wanted Fraudsters Captured
In separate posts the same day, Patel gave an update on the FBI's search for fugitives.
He said six of the bureau's most-wanted fraudsters had been captured across four continents.
According to him, the “six fugitives collectively spent more than 4,000 days on the run.”
He also added that fraud cases tied to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list involved more than $2 billion.
Fugitives are suspects who flee to avoid arrest or trial, often abroad.
The suspects had believed that fleeing the United States would put them beyond the reach of American law enforcement.
“They were wrong,” Patel wrote.
He said the FBI and its international partners would keep pursuing people accused of defrauding Americans, wherever they hide.
Patel has used his X account to share updates on the bureau’s work.
He said the FBI would keep working with international partners to disrupt the networks and pursue those responsible.
Nearly $17bn Seized Worldwide
Patel also gave figures for Operation Blackout, the bureau's campaign against global scam centres.
He said it had led to the seizure of nearly $17 billion.
It had also led to the arrest of hundreds of alleged scammers and the freeing of thousands of trafficked workers.
In addition, more than 10,000 Americans were warned before losing their money, he said.
He said this helped prevent an estimated $670 million in losses.
"We're not just investigating these criminal enterprises.
“We’re dismantling their networks, disrupting their finances, rescuing victims, and holding those responsible accountable,” he said.
The wider operation has also involved raids on suspected scam centres and the disruption of online systems used for fraud.
It has also sought to identify people trafficked into working for criminal networks.
Trafficked workers are people forced into such work.
“To every criminal organization targeting Americans: Justice will find you,” he added.
First of all, good one arresting the fraudsters but then again, why does it look like the picture is being painted as though it is Nigerians that are the bed rock of theft and unlawfulness. Not too long ago, I remember the government carrying out a massive raid in which other nationals were caught, one was even from China, if I remember correctly.
Speaking on that also, the Nigerian government should not make it suitable and comfortable for these criminals to make us their hub, it gives us a bad reputation out there.