The law enforcement agency of the European Union, Europol, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, has arrested 15 persons in a crackdown on Nigerian criminal syndicates.
The agency organised an operation between December 7 and 9, 2023, against the syndicates with 16 partners from four continents to fight poly-criminal Nigerian criminal networks responsible for serious crimes.
This unprecedented international operation was conducted by law enforcement from across Europe, Africa, South America and North America, with 468 law enforcement officers taking part in the action day.
The criminals were reportedly behind crimes such as the smuggling and distribution of drugs, trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation, fraud, illegal waste smuggling, and money laundering.
Europol said 18 victims of human trafficking were rescued, 398 flights were monitored, 13 harbours were monitored as well as 19 postal services and express delivery companies, while 57 checkpoints were established.
It said Nigerian criminal networks are well organised with an almost militia-style hierarchy, promising protection and power as a bait to recruit new members. These secret societies are sometimes called confraternities.
It revealed that Belgium, Bulgaria, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Spain, Sweden, United States and the United Kingdom participated in the operation.
