The Nigerian Police Cybercrime Centre dismantled 5,049 malicious domains and networks and major cybercrime syndicates operating within and beyond Nigeria's borders in 2024.
The centre also secured 14 convictions, and recovered N8.821 billion, $115, 237 and $84,000, which have been restitution to the victims.
Operatives of the centre operationally referred to as Cyber hawks were said to have also arrested and prosecuted over 751 suspects for cybercrime threats.
According to the body, during investigations, operatives recovered 685 devices comprised of 467 mobile phones, 137 laptops/computers, 46 routers, four servers, one drone, and four starlink devices used by cyber criminals, while 16 houses, 39 plots of land and 14 land documents alongside 26 vehicles were confiscated.
Also, 508 cybercrime cases were reported with sextortion, and cyberstalking.
Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, while making this known alongside the Director of the Police National Cybercrime Centre, Ifeanyi Uche also disclosed that the International Police Organisation INTERPOL awarded NPF-NCCC as the Best Cybercrime Unit in Africa.
Speaking on the arrest of suspects involved in identity theft, business email compromise and money laundering, the Force PRO said: "Following an intelligence-led investigation into the activities of a cybercrime syndicate operating on the dark web, on December 20, 2024, operatives of the NPF-NCCC apprehended a key suspect identified as Douglass Victor, in connection with crimes.
"The syndicate, led by one Diepreye Samuel specializes in compromising business emails to defraud companies and divert funds for personal use, targeting prominent companies globally to perpetrate their crimes.
"During interrogation, the suspect confessed to customers' email addresses and passwords, compromising business conversations, and diverting funds to their syndicate.
"Thousands of compromised email credentials and login details were recovered from his Skype account.
"The suspect further disclosed that the syndicate operates internationally, with members located across the globe."
Similarly, Operative of the NPF- NCCC arrested one Egbo Martins, form Delta State, 26 years old, for facilitating cybercrime by fraudulently opening and renting bank accounts used by cybercriminals to receive funds from a WhatsApp hacking syndicate.
