FCID Annex Alagbon Dismantles Major Online Piracy Syndicate, Intercepts 300 Rounds of Ammunition

FCID Annex Alagbon Dismantles Major Online Piracy Syndicate, Intercepts 300 Rounds of Ammunition

The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, has announced two major breakthroughs in ongoing efforts to combat cyber-enabled crimes, intellectual property violations, arms trafficking, and the smuggling of contraband into the country.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the FCID Annex, AIG Margaret Agebe Ochalla, detailed the successful outcomes of two high-profile operations executed by detectives under her command.

FCID Smashes Movie Piracy Ring, Uncovers Multi-Million Naira Cyber Fraud

The FCID Annex successfully dismantled a sophisticated piracy syndicate responsible for illegally distributing Nollywood films online. The operation was triggered by a petition from FilmOne Entertainment Limited, after its movie, “Owambe Thieves,” was unlawfully uploaded to TikTok on August 23, 2025. The perpetrator allegedly charged viewers ₦1,000 to access pirated copies of the film.

Following coordinated intelligence efforts, detectives arrested the prime suspect, who confessed to sourcing films from illicit websites, extracting scenes for engagement on social media, and distributing full movies via WhatsApp for a fee. He admitted selling over 50 copies of “Owambe Thieves” and acknowledged involvement in the piracy of several Nollywood titles, including “Farmers Bride,” “Thinline,” and “Alakada Bad and Bourjee.”

A forensic analysis of two seized devices—an iPhone 15 Pro and an iPhone SE—revealed extensive evidence of film distribution, including lists of recipients and copies of pirated movie files shared through WhatsApp and Telegram.

Financial investigations further uncovered suspicious transactions, with inflows of ₦7,616,403.80 and outflows of ₦7,612,270.99 traced to the suspect’s OPay account between August 20 and October 29, 2025, pointing to sustained income from cyber-enabled piracy and fraud.

The suspect has since been arraigned in court. The FCID said the operation reinforces its commitment to protecting Nigerian creatives and safeguarding the digital market from exploitation.

FCID Intercepts Ammunition Shipment, Arrests Five Suspects

In a separate operation, the FCID Annex intercepted a shipping consignment containing 300 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, alongside a variety of contraband items. Operatives apprehended the driver, Nelson Peretei, before initiating a detailed search of the container in the presence of the clearing agent and suspected recipients.

The search uncovered:

• 300 rounds of ammunition concealed in a Nissan Frontier pickup
• Two Toyota Sienna vehicles
• One Nissan Frontier pickup
• One SCION XA vehicle
• 24 bags of foreign rice
• 7 bales of used clothing (okirika)
• Cartons of vegetable oil
• Multiple household items

Five suspects linked to the shipment were arrested. Investigations traced the consignment to Mrs. Maria Adeyemi, a U.S.-based Nigerian, who allegedly failed to declare the ammunition and contraband goods in the shipping documents. FCID detectives also uncovered an attempt by a self-acclaimed retired U.S. Marine Colonel, Sunny Nwadiri, to claim ownership of the ammunition through an intermediary, despite providing no verifiable identification.

Preliminary findings point to deliberate concealment of illegal items among legitimate cargo to evade port security and customs checks.

The FCID is working with the Nigeria Customs Service and Department of State Services (DSS) to uncover the supply chain, potential trafficking networks, and destination of the weapons. The suspects will be charged according to the Firearms Act and other relevant laws.

AIG Margaret A. Ochalla reaffirmed the FCID Annex’s dedication to disrupting cybercrime networks, safeguarding Nigeria’s creative and economic assets, and combating arms smuggling and contraband trafficking. She urged the public to continue providing credible intelligence to support ongoing security efforts, pledging that all offenders will be pursued and prosecuted without hesitation.

The media briefing was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of FCID Annex, ASP Mayegun Aminat (anipr), on behalf of the AIG.