Month: May 2025

INTERPOL has uncovered a major transnational vehicle trafficking operation linking stolen cars from Canada to Nigeria, following a sweeping crackdown across West Africa. Codenamed Operation Safe Wheels, the two-week enforcement effort took place from March 17 to 30, 2025, spanning 12 West African nations, including Nigeria. The initiative, aimed at curbing vehicle smuggling, led to the detection of around 150 stolen vehicles and the seizure of over 75, many of which were traced back to Canada, as well as France, Germany, and the Netherlands. In Nigeria, operatives from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recovered six high-end stolen vehicles, mostly Toyota and Lexus models, concealed in shipping containers believed to have arrived from Canada. Four vehicles bore signs of forced entry, and all were verified as stolen in 2024 using INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database — a global tool that flagged more than 270,000 stolen vehicles last year alone. According to INTERPOL’s Director of Organized and Emerging Crime, David Caunter, these thefts are often the first step in broader criminal operations. “The theft is only the beginning. Stolen vehicles are used to fund and facilitate organised crime and, in some cases, even terrorism,” he stated. The international sting operation is part of Project Drive Out, a joint initiative between INTERPOL and the Government of Canada, focused on tackling cross-border vehicle theft and the illegal trade in spare parts. The project deployed SMV task force experts, including Canadian investigators, to countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, and Benin for on-ground support and forensic verifications. So far, two major trafficking networks have been identified, and 18 new investigations have been launched as INTERPOL deepens its probe. The discovery of Canadian stolen vehicles in Lagos is expected to bolster cooperation between Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and Canada’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau as authorities intensify their crackdown on international car smuggling.

U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed his National Security Adviser, Michael Waltz, after Waltz mistakenly added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a secure Signal group chat discussing classified military plans against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The blunder, which quickly escalated into a political scandal dubbed “Signalgate,” led to the publication of sensitive internal communications by The Atlantic, sparking widespread outrage and media scrutiny. According to The Daily Mail, Waltz’s firing marks the first cabinet-level dismissal of Trump’s second term. A source confirmed that the president is expected to formally announce the decision soon. Goldberg was inadvertently added to a chat with 17 senior officials, which he later exposed in full, raising questions about the competence and discretion of the national security team. Steve Witkoff, the president’s special envoy who has previously met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, is reportedly being considered as Waltz’s replacement. “This has to do with competence, not ideology,” said journalist Mark Halperin on his 2Way YouTube show, adding that dissatisfaction with Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, had been growing within the national security establishment. Despite the controversy, Waltz had remained in his role for several weeks, appearing on Fox & Friends and attending Cabinet meetings. However, his credibility suffered significantly, especially after a widely mocked explanation on The Ingraham Angle about how Goldberg was added to the chat. Trump had initially resisted firing Waltz, reportedly to avoid appearing reactive to Goldberg’s reporting. In a recent interview with The Atlantic, the president gave a lukewarm defense: “Waltz is fine. I mean, he’s here. He just left this office. He’s fine. He was beat up also.”

Despite being under investigation for an alleged ₦1.2 trillion fraud that affected over 600,000 Nigerians, Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) has resumed operations. The embattled platform is now allowing new users to register, trade, and withdraw profits, even as regulatory bodies like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) maintain that its operations are illegal. Sources confirmed that CBEX is undergoing an external audit by a UK-based insurance firm to verify the extent of losses from its April 14 collapse, which the company attributes to a malfunction in its AI trading system. The firm claims that an organized cyberattack tampered with its algorithm, leading to the loss of investor funds. In response, a verification process is underway, with compensation tied to an insurance-backed claims initiative. According to traders on the platform, old accounts are still restricted from withdrawing funds but will be partially reactivated by June 25, 2025. Investors with balances under $1,000 must inject $100 to restore access, while those with more must contribute $200. Starting in June, these users can withdraw up to 50% of their capital, with the remaining balance becoming available from August 25. In the meantime, CBEX has launched fresh trading features for new users, including manual trading signals and instant withdrawal of referral bonuses. The promoters insist that new accounts are not affected by the ongoing audit and that they aim to rebuild trust by showing transparency and continued operation. They deny allegations of fraud, claiming the company is wrongly accused and that actual losses were far less than reported. However, the EFCC continues to pursue key figures linked to the platform. A prominent trader, Adefowora Abiodun, recently surrendered to the agency, and a foreign national, Elie Bitar, has been declared wanted. The EFCC has urged the public to provide information on his whereabouts as investigations intensify. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has issued a separate advisory warning against unregulated digital investment platforms. The agency flagged multiple platforms—such as eWealth Connect, WWCoin (TOFRO), Delux, and ADK—for exhibiting traits of Ponzi schemes. Common red flags include unrealistic returns, high withdrawal fees, and revenue models dependent on new investor recruitment. SEC Director-General Dr. Emomotimi Agama has reiterated that registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission or the EFCC’s anti-money laundering unit does not validate an investment firm’s legitimacy. He warned that participation in unlicensed investment schemes could result in significant financial loss and criminal penalties, including fines of up to ₦20 million and jail terms of up to 10 years.