Nigerian sextortion ring allegedly linked to NSW teen's death smashed by AFP, 22 arrested
The joint operation was led by the FBI, AFP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who were tasked with 'dismantling' an alleged organised crime network responsible for a wave of online sextortion crimes targeting teenagers all over the world.
It is alleged the network coerced victims into sending sexually explicit images before threatening to share them unless payment was made.
22 men were arrested as part of the joint police operation, titled Operation Artemis.
Two of the 22 were Nigerian-based offenders who are alleged to be linked to the death of a 16-year-old boy in NSW, who took his own life in 2023 after they allegedly threatened to share intimate images with his family and friends if he did not pay them money.
In the US, more than 20 teenage suicides were linked to the sextortion network since 2021.Two AFP investigators were sent to Nigeria to trace online activity, link digital evidence to suspects and assist in the identification of the perpetrators and the victims. Data seized by foreign law enforcement was also analysed by investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), as well as supporting the process to avoid overlap with investigations. There has been a growing sophistication and volume of online abuse attempts targeting Australian children.
Between the 2023 and 2024 financial year, the ACCCE received 58,503 reports of online child exploitation locally, including 1554 sextortion-related reports.
AFP Acting Commander and leader of the ACCCE Ben Moses said the outcome was a result of international co-operation. 'This global operation sends a clear message to those who exploit children online. Law enforcement is united and determined to find you — no matter where you hide,' he said.
'These crimes are calculated and devastating, often pushing vulnerable young people into extreme distress.
'Thanks to the co-ordinated action of our partners, we achieved meaningful results including an immediate and significant reduction in sextortion reports across Australia.'
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