South African police and their Interpol counterparts have arrested a 28-year-old Nigerian in Sandton, Johannesburg, for alleged cybercrimes that involved scamming gullible US citizens out of millions of dollars.
Narrating events leading to this week’s arrest, Colonel Athlenda Mathe said: “James Junior Aliyu was arrested at an upmarket estate in Sandton, Johannesburg, earlier this week following a takedown operation”.
Colonel Mathe added: “Just after 10 am on Wednesday, 29 June 2022, members from the Interpol National Crime Bureau in Pretoria with the assistance from members of the SA Police Service Gauteng Highway Patrol Unit swooped”.
The law enforcers arrested the accused at a residence in the upmarket Sandton suburb.
Junior Aliyu’s arrest follows a widespread investigation involving law enforcement authorities from South Africa and the US.
The cybercrime suspect who has been conducting his criminal activities from South Africa is accused of swindling dozens of US citizens of millions of dollars through email and text messages.
Authorities in the US, where the investigation originated and where most of his alleged victims are based, have applied for his extradition.
The accused Junior Aliyu appeared before the Randburg Magistrate’s Court the same day of his arrest.
The matter has been remanded to Tuesday 5 July 2022.
