Authorities in Argentina have arrested a Nigerian national, identified as Ikechukwu N., for allegedly masterminding a series of international romance scams that defrauded thousands of women across several countries.
The suspect was captured after being placed on the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) wanted list, marking Argentina’s first arrest of a fugitive under both a Red Notice and a Silver Notice.
According to a statement released by INTERPOL on Tuesday, Ikechukwu is accused of leading an international cybercrime network that specialized in online romance fraud and financial scams.
The operation was executed jointly by the Argentine Federal Police and the Airport Security Police, as part of Operation Jackal, an INTERPOL-led initiative targeting West African organized criminal groups.
“The suspect is accused of orchestrating multiple romance scams involving thousands of women, and leading an international cybercrime network,” INTERPOL stated.
The agency noted that the Silver Notice pilot project, launched in January 2025, is designed to help countries trace and recover criminal assets linked to transnational crime.
Ikechukwu’s arrest represents a major success for international law enforcement collaboration, supported by INTERPOL Brazil, IFCACC, and FIS.
Further investigations into the suspect’s network and financial operations are ongoing.
