The U.S. Consulate in Lagos and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are seeking stronger collaboration with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to combat sextortion and related transnational financial crimes. The effort is raised during a courtesy visit in Lagos by Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché James Smith of the U.S. Consulate and Thomas Pepper of the FBI Cyber Division Headquarters. They meet with ACE I Bawa Kaltungo, Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2. The EFCC says the U.S. officials commend the commission for its investigative work and ongoing commitment to tackling sextortion and cross-border offences. Smith is reported to say the visit focuses on strengthening existing partnerships, particularly through improved intelligence sharing about criminal networks operating across Nigeria and other countries. Kaltungo responds that EFCC is prepared to cooperate fully as needed. The reports also cite a wider global rise in financially motivated sextortion cases, including those attributed to Nigerian-linked syndicates, and highlight U.S. concerns about large-scale losses tied to these schemes. The overall thrust across the accounts is increased cross-agency information exchange between U.S. authorities and EFCC to support investigations and enforcement.
US Consulate and FBI seek enhanced information sharing with Nigeria’s EFCC on sextortion
The U.S. Consulate in Lagos and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are seeking stronger collaboration with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to combat sextortion and rel...
- The U.S. Consulate in Lagos and the FBI engage EFCC officials in Lagos over sextortion and transnational financial crimes.
- The meeting involves Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché James Smith and FBI cyber official Thomas Pepper, with EFCC acting zonal director ACE I Bawa Kaltungo.
- The U.S. side praises EFCC’s investigative effectiveness and commitment to tackling sextortion and related offences.
- The main request is enhanced information-sharing/intelligence sharing to improve joint efforts against cross-border criminal networks.
- EFCC officials say the commission is ready to cooperate fully where needed.
The United States Consulate in Lagos and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, have applauded the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its investigative effectiveness and sustained efforts in combating sextortion and transnational financial crimes. The two US agencies gave the commendation during a courtesy visit by Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché of the United […] Sextortion: US Consulate, FBI laud EFCC, seek enhanced information sharing
2 hours agoThe United States Consulate in Lagos and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have called for enhanced information-sharing mechanisms with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to strengthen joint efforts against sextortion and other cross-border financial crimes. The appeal came during a courtesy visit on Monday by SSA James Smith, Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché at the US Consulate, and SSA Thomas Pepper of the FBI Cyber Division Headquarters to ACE I Bawa Kaltungo, Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2. According to a statement released by the EFCC on its X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, the US officials praised the commission for its effective investigations and ongoing commitment to tackling sextortion and transnational financial crimes. Smith emphasised that the visit was designed to bolster existing partnerships, with a particular focus on intelligence sharing involving criminal networks spanning Nigeria and other countries. “The visit aimed to strengthen the existing collaboration between the U.S. Consulate and the Commission, particularly in the area of information sharing in combating criminal activities involving both Nigerians and foreigners,” he said. In response, Kaltungo expressed gratitude for the engagement and reaffirmed the EFCC’s readiness to cooperate fully where needed. The anti-graft agency described the meeting as a clear demonstration of both nations’ shared resolve to intensify cooperation against sextortion, cybercrime, and related transnational offences. The push for closer ties comes amid a global surge in financially motivated sextortion cases, many linked to Nigerian syndicates. In April 2025, the FBI arrested 22 Nigerians in a major operation codenamed Artemis targeting a scheme blamed for over 20 teen suicides in the United States since 2021. US authorities have reported thousands of cases, with financial losses running into tens of millions of dollars, underscoring the urgent need for international law enforcement collaboration.
10 hours agoThe US Consulate and FBI are strengthening ties with EFCC to combat sextortion and transnational financial crimes. Learn about their collaborative efforts. Read More: https://punchng.com/us-consulate-fbi-seek-stronger-efcc-ties-on-sextortion/
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