Togolese police have apprehended twenty-one suspected Nigerian cybercriminals posing as cryptocurrency specialists. They were arrested on August 26.

An investigation opened by the BRI-DGPN made it possible to arrest 21 people, of Nigerian nationality, staying in 04 homes located in the Yokoè Agblégan district in Lomé. The gang lure their victims into online currency buying and selling groups with false identities. "The search of the premises occupied by these individuals will allow the seizure of two (02) military jackets, a dagger, two hundred grams (200 g) of cannabis, twenty-five (25) laptops, several bank cards as well as other computer and communication equipment,” the National Police said in a statement. Further investigation revealed that these individuals are part of an extensive network of cybercriminals based in Nigeria. Their leaders recruit and train them, before sending them to different countries in the sub-region, including Togo, where they rent apartments in order to engage in criminal activities such as the diversion of cryptocurrency.