A Nigerian identified as Chimereze Chinedu has been arrested for allegedly defrauding a citizen of Thailand of the sum of $216,000.
Chinedu defrauded the victim under the pretense of selling 37 tricycles to her.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who disclosed this on Tuesday said the suspect further extorted N30,000,000 from the victim.
He had claimed that he needed the N30,000,000 to secure the release of the tricycles which he claimed were seized by the police.
The suspect was, however, arrested in Enugu State by detectives of the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID), Lagos State Police Command, following weeks of investigation and technical support from the INTERPOL.
“Detectives of the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID), Lagos State Police Command, have arrested one Chimereze Chinedu ‘m’ for defrauding a citizen of Thailand of the sum of Two Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Dollars.
“Chimereze defrauded his victim under the pretense of selling 37 tricycles to her. He further expanded his fraudulent activity by forging letters of the State Criminal Investigative Department, Lagos showing that the tricycles were seized by the police and further extorted Thirty Million Naira from the victim to purportedly secure the release of the tricycles.
“The suspect was arrested on May 10, 2024 in Enugu State following weeks of diligent investigation and technical support from the INTERPOL. He is currently in detention, as investigations continue to uncover details towards identifying and apprehending his accomplices,” Hundeyin said.
“The Lagos State Police Command remains steadfast in its commitment to combating internet fraud and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice,” he added.