Authorities in Argentina have arrested a Nigerian national, Ikechukwu N., accused of orchestrating multiple romance scams that targeted thousands of women across the world.
His arrest follows his inclusion on INTERPOL’s Red and Silver Notice lists, marking the first time Argentina has captured a fugitive with both notices.
The operation was jointly executed by the Argentine Federal Police and the Airport Security Police, under Operation Jackal, an INTERPOL-coordinated initiative aimed at dismantling West African organized cybercrime networks.
In a statement on Tuesday, INTERPOL described Ikechukwu as the leader of an international cybercrime ring, responsible for large-scale online dating frauds.
“Argentine authorities have captured Nigerian national Ikechukwu N., marking the country’s first arrest of a #RedNotice fugitive who was also the subject of an INTERPOL Silver Notice,” the organization said.
According to INTERPOL, the suspect allegedly managed an international web of criminals involved in romance scams, using fake online identities to defraud victims of significant sums. The coordinated arrest received support from IFCACC, FIS, and INTERPOL Brazil.
The global policing body also explained that the Silver Notice pilot project, introduced in January 2025, was created to help member countries trace and recover criminal assets, making Ikechukwu’s arrest a test case for the program’s success.
What you should know
Ikechukwu’s arrest represents a major breakthrough in the global fight against cyber-enabled financial crimes. Operation Jackal, launched by INTERPOL in 2022, continues to expose the reach of West African cybercrime syndicates, many of which operate under the guise of romance and business email scams across continents.
