Police in Argentina have arrested a Nigerian man, identified as Ikechukwu N, for allegedly running a massive romance scam that defrauded thousands of women across different countries.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), the suspect had been on their wanted list before his capture by Argentine authorities. The operation was jointly carried out by the Argentine Federal Police and the Airport Security Police.
INTERPOL said Ikechukwu was not only accused of deceiving women through fake online relationships but also of leading an international cybercrime network involved in fraud and money laundering.
“Argentine authorities have captured Nigerian national Ikechukwu N., marking the country’s first arrest of a Red Notice fugitive who was also the subject of an INTERPOL Silver Notice,” the agency said in its statement.
The arrest is part of Operation Jackal, an INTERPOL-led effort to track and dismantle West African organized criminal groups involved in online scams and financial crimes.
The operation received support from several law enforcement bodies, including INTERPOL Brazil, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIS), and the International Financial Crime Analysis Coordination Centre (IFCACC).
INTERPOL explained that the Silver Notice, introduced in January 2025, is a new initiative aimed at helping countries trace and recover assets obtained through criminal activities.
The agency described the arrest as a major step in the global fight against cybercrime and romance scams, which have caused emotional and financial losses for thousands of victims worldwide.
Background
A Red Notice is an international request for the arrest of a wanted person, while a Silver Notice helps countries locate and recover assets linked to criminal proceeds.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the network and recover money stolen through the scams.
