FBI-led operations result in the arrest of 22 Nigerians for sextortion

In a groundbreaking initiative, the FBI, along with partners from Canada, Australia, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom, has launched a unique operation to tackle financially motivated sextortion schemes in Nigeria, leading to the arrest of 22 Nigerian suspects.
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This operation, named Operation Artemis, was coordinated with multiple law enforcement agencies, including Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). It aims to address the alarming number of suicides linked to sextortion cases involving Nigerian offenders. Around half of those arrested have direct connections to the victims who tragically took their own lives. This operation represents a crucial advancement in the battle against child exploitation, seeking justice for victims and holding international perpetrators accountable who operate anonymously online. "Operation Artemis showcases the FBI's ongoing commitment to protect the most vulnerable among us and to pursue those heinous criminals who harm our children, regardless of their location," stated FBI Director Kash Patel. "This effort underscores the vital importance of international collaboration in confronting this escalating threat." Patel emphasized the importance of parental education in online safety, highlighting the FBI's dedication to safeguarding children. This announcement comes in light of a reported 30% increase in sextortion-related tips received by the FBI's National Threat Operations Centre from October 2024 to March 2025 compared to the previous year.

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported over 54,000 victims in 2024, a rise from 34,000 in 2023, resulting in nearly $65 million in financial losses over the past two years.

There has been a significant uptick in sextortion schemes targeting young males aged 14-17, leading to over 20 minor victims tragically dying by suicide. The FBI stated, "Due to the concerning rise and similarities in these cases, we expanded our investigations nationwide to provide answers and closure for grieving families in America." Through information obtained by the FBI's Child Exploitation Operational Unit (CEOU), the agency identified nearly 3,000 victims of financially motivated sextortion, revealing a growing trend of perpetrators based in Nigeria. As part of Operation Artemis, a Nigerian man was extradited to the U.S. in January and charged with causing the death of a South Carolina teenager who took his life after being extorted by someone posing as a woman. Furthermore, two men were extradited from Nigeria to the U.S. last year to face charges linked to the sextortion and subsequent death of a young man in Pennsylvania; more suspects are still awaiting extradition in Nigeria. The arrested individuals employed advanced sextortion tactics by reaching out to victims on social media, pretending to be peers or romantic interests.

Once trust was established through chats or direct messages, they coerced victims into sharing compromising images, then threatened to release the photos unless they received immediate payment, often requested through gift cards, mobile payment services, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Even with payments made, perpetrators frequently continued to manipulate their victims, fostering feelings of shame, isolation, and guilt. Operation Artemis was led by various units within the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, including the CEOU and the Crimes Against Children Human Trafficking Intelligence Unit, with support from the FBI Legal Attaché offices in Abuja and Lagos. The FBI's Victim Outreach Support and Strategy Program also played a crucial role in assisting victims' families throughout the investigations. Resources from numerous FBI field offices, including those in Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbia, Houston, Jackson, Milwaukee, Nashville, Newark, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Diego, and St. Louis were instrumental in providing on-ground support and investigative assistance in Nigeria. Additionally, partners at the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation Obscenities Section were vital in ensuring that the offenders in these cases face appropriate charges.
Guardian

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