In a joint operation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Jamaica’s Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) have arrested two Nigerians in Lagos for allegedly stealing $1 million from the Jamaican government.
According to MOCA’s Director of Communications, Major Basil Jarrett, “MOCA, in collaboration with its US federal law enforcement partners, launched an intensive, international cyber investigation into the attack, resulting in the monies being frozen and ultimately, the majority of it being returned.”
The investigation began in 2023 when the National Water Commission reported an attempted fraud of over $1 million through a business email compromise. MOCA worked with US federal law enforcement partners to track the funds and locate the perpetrators in Nigeria.
Major Jarrett commended the National Water Commission’s swift action, saying, “This outcome not only highlights the resilience and preparedness of our cybersecurity defenses but also underscores the critical importance of international cooperation in addressing cyber threats.”
The two men were arrested at their residence in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, and the investigation is ongoing, with MOCA suspecting that other individuals may be involved in the sophisticated cyber fraud scheme.
“The investigation into the cybersecurity attack is still ongoing,” Major Jarrett noted, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to uncovering all those involved.