A 20-year-old Nigerian has been arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for his alleged involvement in large-scale transnational fraud targeting victims in the United States, with losses estimated to exceed one billion naira.

The suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Anti-Fraud Unit of the Airport Police Command while attempting to travel out of Lagos.

Confirming the arrest on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, ASP Mohammed Adeola, said the operation followed months of intelligence-led surveillance based on credible information linking the suspect to multiple international fraud schemes.

According to the police, the suspect, who previously resided in Calabar, relocated to Lagos on February 23, 2024, where he allegedly coordinated several fraudulent activities aimed at U.S.-based victims.

Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly deceived a 47-year-old American woman into transferring one million dollars in 2024 under the guise of purchasing property in Florida for an orphanage.

The funds were reportedly obtained through a cryptocurrency investment scheme known as “BullRun 2.0,” formerly called “4 Way Mirror Money.”

Police further alleged that the suspect also defrauded another victim—a 70-year-old American woman—of 18,000 dollars, equivalent to about N26 million.

Adeola explained that the suspect allegedly carried out the fraud by persuading victims to purchase gift cards, high-end mobile phones, and computer equipment, which were then shipped to Nigeria at his direction.

He added that the suspect allegedly impersonated a 60-year-old orthopedic surgeon affiliated with the United Nations in Nigeria, claiming the devices were needed to maintain secure communication channels with the victims.

Items recovered from the suspect include a 14-inch MacBook Pro, an iPhone 17 Pro Max, two Google Pixel 10 Pro XL phones, and one Google Pixel 10 Pro, with an estimated total value of N8,141,367.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Airport Command, Mrs Olufunke Ogunbode, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to preventing criminal elements from using airports as escape routes, emphasizing the role of intelligence-driven policing.

Adeola said the suspect and the case file have been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force Special Fraud Unit for further investigation, after which the suspect will be charged in court.