By Patrick Idowu
In a major crackdown on cybercrime, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested a key player in a transnational fraud syndicate, popularly known in internet scam circles as a “picker” or “azaman.” The suspect is accused of laundering over $300,000 on behalf of fugitive accomplices.
The EFCC, in a statement on Tuesday, revealed that the arrest was part of a sting operation conducted on Sunday, May 4, 2025, in the Sabo Iyako area of Auchi, Edo State. Thirty-five suspects were taken into custody following credible intelligence on their involvement in widespread online scams.
While the agency did not disclose the suspect’s identity, it confirmed his deep involvement in not just cyber fraud, but also in banking and investment fraud schemes that targeted unsuspecting victims.
“The suspect has collected and laundered over $300,000 for his syndicate members who are currently at large,” said Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson. “He will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”
The arrest underscores the Commission’s renewed offensive against digital financial crimes, with law enforcement tightening the noose around the masterminds behind internet fraud networks across the country.
