The Nigeria Police Force has extradited a suspected cyber fraudster, Samuel Ugberease, popularly known as “Putsammy,” “Putput,” and “Sammy,” to the United States to face charges related to online romance scams, wire fraud, and money laundering.

The extradition was carried out on Wednesday, May 14, 2026, by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja after the completion of legal proceedings and collaboration between Nigerian and U.S. law enforcement agencies.

According to the police, investigations showed that Ugberease and his accomplices allegedly operated a criminal syndicate between 2014 and 2018, targeting women in the United States, especially in the Eastern District of North Carolina, through online romance scams.

The syndicate reportedly created fake identities and dating profiles to deceive victims into emotional relationships before manipulating them into sending huge sums of money under false claims and staged emergencies.

Police further disclosed that the illicit proceeds were laundered through several bank accounts used to receive and conceal the stolen funds. In one of the cases linked to the suspect, a victim was allegedly defrauded of more than $1.5 million.

Ugberease was initially arrested by INTERPOL operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on December 14, 2025, shortly after arriving from South Africa. His arrest followed an INTERPOL Red Notice issued by U.S. authorities.

The Federal High Court in Lagos later granted an application for his extradition in line with Nigeria’s Extradition Act.

The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, said the Nigeria Police remains committed to strengthening international cooperation and intelligence-driven policing to tackle cybercrime, financial fraud, and other transnational crimes.