FBI-Led ‘Operation Blackout’ Hits Nigerian Cybercrime Hubs: Nine Arrested, 53 Devices Seized

In a major blow to international fraud networks, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), working alongside Nigerian law enforcement agencies, has arrested nine cybercrime suspects and seized 53 electronic devices during a coordinated raid in Nigeria.
​The operation, codenamed Operation Blackout, is part of a sweeping global campaign targeting cross-border cybercriminal syndicates accused of defrauding Americans out of billions of dollars.
​FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the crackdown in a statement shared via his official X account on Sunday, revealing that investigators have also identified $11 million in illicit funds across multiple international jurisdictions that are currently marked for freezing.
​Targeting Global Scam Centers
​Operation Blackout specifically targets large-scale scam compounds and organized syndicates responsible for high-yield advance-fee fraud, romance scams, and financially motivated cyber-extortion schemes.
​Patel described these operations as ruthless financial rings that exploit vulnerable victims and strip away life savings, relying on international boundaries to evade justice.
​”Operation Blackout is taking the fight directly to the international cybercriminal networks stealing billions from Americans,” Patel said. “To the criminals targeting Americans from overseas: JUSTICE WILL FIND YOU.”
​Multi-National Intelligence Collaboration
​The operation underscores a growing trend of intelligence-sharing between Western authorities and West African law enforcement. Patel commended Nigerian security agencies and the FBI’s legal attaché and law enforcement partners in London for their critical support in executing the raids and tracking financial flows.
​The broader regional campaign across West Africa has already resulted in nearly 30 arrests, the seizure of hundreds of digital assets, and the takedown of over 3.7 million fraudulent accounts, pages, and groups across various social platforms.
​The nine suspects apprehended in Nigeria face further interrogation and potential extradition proceedings to the United States as financial forensic teams work to trace and recover additional assets linked to the network.