Nigerian national wanted in US for cybercrime case arrested in Philippines
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) apprehended a Nigerian national wanted in the United States for a cybercrime case in Quezon City, Philippines, on Monday, October 28, 2024.
Immigration Commissioner, Joel Anthony Viado, announced that the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) successfully captured Ahmed Kamilu Alex, 35, on October 11, months after he was added to the immigration blacklist for his fugitive status.
Viado revealed that US authorities accused Alex of collaborating with two other individuals in a cyber fraud scheme. They created fraudulent websites that imitated legitimate US government agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The trio allegedly swindled their victims, primarily military personnel, charging them between $500 to $48,500 under false pretenses, claiming the money was for processing their emergency leave requests through these fake websites.
The US government has sought Alex’s deportation to stand trial for his offenses. He is currently detained in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, awaiting his deportation proceedings.
“He will remain on our immigration blacklist and will be banned from re-entering the Philippines upon his return,” the BI stated.