Two Nigerian nationals and a third accomplice have been sentenced to a combined 28 years and nine months in prison after orchestrating a sophisticated cryptocurrency fraud that defrauded victims of nearly £5 million.

The convicts, Anthony Ikenwe, 29, Kevin Nwamma, 25, and Hamza Bashir, 23, were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.

According to investigators, the trio posed as police officers and contacted victims, falsely claiming their cryptocurrency accounts had been compromised.

The victims were persuaded to disclose sensitive account credentials or transfer their digital assets into what they believed were secure accounts. The accounts, however, were controlled by the fraudsters.

Police said the group obtained victims’ personal information from the dark web and created fake websites designed to mimic legitimate cryptocurrency platforms.

They also impersonated employees of cryptocurrency companies and operated fraudulent technical support services to convince victims that the scheme was genuine.

During the investigation, detectives recovered a video showing one of the suspects speaking with a victim while receiving real-time instructions from a co-conspirator via Snapchat. One of the messages reportedly read: “Tell him to try with old pass.”

Authorities said the proceeds of the fraud were used to finance extravagant lifestyles, including luxury holidays, designer watches, high-end vehicles and shopping sprees at luxury stores such as Harrods.

Investigators confirmed that at least eight victims lost almost £5 million in cryptocurrency but believe the actual number of victims could be significantly higher.

The investigation, which began in January 2025, involved extensive analysis of blockchain transactions, cryptocurrency exchange records, financial data, communication records, internet service provider information and digital wallets.

Detectives said the evidence ultimately exposed an organised criminal network operating across multiple online platforms and jurisdictions.

Detective Inspector Geoff Donoghue of the Metropolitan Police’s Cryptocurrency Team described the operation as a complex investigation into a group that exploited victims’ trust by impersonating police officers.

He said the case demonstrated that criminals could not rely on technology or digital assets to conceal their activities, reaffirming the Metropolitan Police’s commitment to tracking down cybercriminals and bringing them to justice.

Ikenwe and Nwamma each received six years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit fraud and five years for money laundering, with both sentences to run concurrently. Bashir was sentenced to three years and nine months for conspiracy to commit fraud and three years for money laundering, also to run concurrently.

Following the convictions, police urged the public to remain cautious of unsolicited calls concerning their finances and advised individuals to independently verify any claims with their bank or cryptocurrency service provider before sharing personal or financial information.

Several foreign nationals and Nigerian citizens have been arrested over their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities in Amba, Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The suspects were arrested on Friday, 17th July during a security operation led by the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe.

The development was disclosed by the Personal Assistant to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, Ebenezer Daniel, in a post shared on his Facebook page.

Although the identities of the suspects and the number of those arrested were not immediately disclosed, the operation is believed to be part of ongoing efforts by the Nasarawa State Government to clamp down on illegal mining and strengthen regulatory compliance in the state’s solid minerals sector.

The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, BEECROFT has intercepted 757 kilograms of suspected cannabis sativa during a series of intelligence-led operations carried out across different parts of Lagos State.

The illicit substances, packed in 18 bags, were recovered in three separate operations conducted between April 7 and July 17 before being handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Navy Base in Apapa for further investigation.

Speaking during the handover, the Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said the seizures were made following credible intelligence that guided the operations.

According to him, five bags of the suspected cannabis were recovered at Abule Osun on April 7, while another two bags were intercepted at Ikare Island on April 13. The remaining 11 bags were seized at Alpha Beach on July 15.

Adams-Aliu credited the successful operations to the Nigerian Navy’s Western Regional Control Centre, known as Falcon Eye, an advanced maritime surveillance system equipped with long-range cameras and sensors designed to monitor coastal areas beyond the operational reach of patrol boats.

He explained that the technology provided real-time intelligence, enabling naval personnel to track and intercept suspected traffickers before they could carry out their activities.

The commander said the recoveries reflected the Nigerian Navy’s renewed emphasis on technology-driven maritime security under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.

He reaffirmed NNS BEECROFT’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-based operations aimed at combating drug trafficking and other maritime crimes in collaboration with the NDLEA and other security agencies.

Receiving the recovered exhibits on behalf of the NDLEA Marine Command, Commander of Narcotics Luka Yerima commended the Navy for its continued partnership in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

Yerima assured that the agency would continue to strengthen collaboration with security agencies to dismantle organised criminal networks involved in the illegal drug trade.

He added that the seized substances would undergo forensic analysis as investigations continue to identify and prosecute those behind the trafficking operation.