Joint Operation Targets Sextortion Suspects in Nigeria
The FBI and law enforcement partners from Canada, Australia, and Nigeria conducted a first-of-its kind operation that resulted in charges against some of the most egregious perpetrators of financially motivated sextortion.
Video Transcript
Father of victim: Imagine somebody walking into your home middle of the night and shooting your son in the head. Well, this person did something even worse than that. He scared him so bad that he shot himself.
Robert Cameron, FBI assistant legal attaché: This threat when you look at it broadly, it's ruthless. And it's relentless. It doesn't care. It doesn't respect our borders. It doesn't respect the law, our international protocols, right? The beauty of an operation like this is we're actually addressing this threat head on in a broad way. We're bringing in all our partners, it's full team work effort worldwide.
Abba Sambo, Nigeria Economic and Financial Crimes Commission: They don't actually see the suffering of the victim, they tend to see it as a game, as if the acts that they commit do not result in some negative impact on the lives of other people.
Derek Bonner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Suspects can’t hide behind their computer, behind their cell phones just because they’re in a different country, or on a different continent. International partners are going to work together and are going to hold them accountable for what they’ve done.
Michael Wetkas, zonal commander, Nigeria Economic and Financial Crimes Commission: We hope to get every single one of them. Because with the kind of collaboration that we have and the determination and commitment we have, I don't see anything stopping us from getting these guys no matter where they are.
Ayotunde Solademi, investigator, FBI Legal Attaché: There's no hiding place for any criminal. Wherever you are, whoever you think you are, you will definitely be hunted down and arrested and be made to pay for your crimes.
Kevin Mulroney, Australian Federal Police: We will follow these investigations to the end and they will be identified and that will be arrested. So they need to consider the consequences of their actions and just leave our kids alone.
Karen R., Special Agent, FBI Child Exploitation Operational Unit: When we talked to them, we made it very clear that we were here trying to figure out what happened, why there's a child that is no longer with their family, why a son isn't with their parents. We were very specific in how we were approaching those interviews, not only to make the best case possible and make sure that we get justice, but also just to let them know that this isn't a victimless crime.
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