Cyber Security Authority Cracks Major International Cyber Fraud Ring, Arrests High-Interest Nigerian Suspect Wanted by INTERPOL and FBI
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA), working in close collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and international law enforcement agencies, has recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against transnational cybercrime with the arrest and prosecution of a Nigerian national allegedly linked to an international cyber-enabled financial fraud network.
The suspect, identified as Aderinsola Oluwanifemi Adeleye, was arrested following months of intelligence-led investigations coordinated by the CSA with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). According to the Authority, the suspect had become a person of significant investigative interest over his alleged involvement in cross-border financial crimes involving compromised United States banking cards.
The CSA described the operation as a landmark achievement in Ghana’s ongoing efforts to combat sophisticated cyber-enabled financial crimes and strengthen international cooperation against organized criminal networks.
Investigations revealed that Adeleye, who reportedly operates a cement block manufacturing business and resides at Oyarifa in Accra, was allegedly involved in a series of fraudulent Point of Sale (POS) transactions carried out at several fuel stations across the country using compromised Citi Bank debit cards issued in the United States.
The case was triggered on June 25, 2026, when the manager of Haatso Shell Filling Station reported to the Police that Shell Headquarters had received a complaint from Ecobank Ghana PLC concerning suspicious POS transactions linked to two Citi Bank debit cards issued in the United States.
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Subsequent investigations traced the unauthorized transactions to POS terminals at both Haatso Shell Filling Station and Osu Total Filling Station. Internal investigations by Shell Ghana led to the identification of two fuel pump attendants suspected of facilitating the fraudulent transactions.
The attendants were arrested and questioned by the Police. During interrogation, they reportedly disclosed that the suspect, together with another accomplice, had visited the Haatso Shell Filling Station on multiple occasions, using Citi Bank debit cards through mobile devices to execute fraudulent transactions.
According to the CSA, the breakthrough came later that same day when Adeleye allegedly returned to the Haatso Shell Filling Station at approximately 8:00 p.m. to conduct another transaction using one of the compromised debit cards. The two pump attendants immediately recognized him as the individual linked to the fraudulent activities, leading to his arrest by officers at the scene.
A search conducted during the arrest reportedly uncovered a Beretta pistol loaded with two rounds of 9mm live ammunition, as well as a Citi Bank VISA debit card bearing the number 5262 2611 2797 4764, believed to be connected to the ongoing investigation.
Investigators subsequently extended their operation to the offices of AA Global Homes Construction Limited at Katamanso in Accra as part of efforts to uncover additional evidence and identify other individuals connected to the suspected cybercrime syndicate.
The suspect has since been arraigned before a competent court and remanded into custody while investigations continue.
The Cyber Security Authority reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Ghana’s digital ecosystem and financial sector from cyber threats. It also emphasized the importance of strong collaboration with both local and international security agencies in dismantling criminal networks engaged in cyber-enabled financial crimes.
The Authority urged the public and businesses to remain vigilant, promptly report suspicious digital or financial activities, and cooperate with law enforcement agencies as investigations continue into the wider international network.
