INQUIRER file photo / ALEXIS CORPUZ
MANILA, Philippines — A Nigerian fugitive suspected of committing cybercrimes was arrested in Quezon City, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Monday.
In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the fugitive as 35-year-old Ahmed Kamilu Alex, who was apprehended by the BI’s fugitive search unit on Panay Avenue, Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City, last Oct. 11.
Viado said that Ahmed’s arrest was based on a mission order issued at the request of the US government, which is seeking his deportation to face charges.
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“It was learned that Alex has been on the BI’s wanted list since August this year when he was placed in the immigration blacklist for being a fugitive from justice,” Viado said.
“His illegal activities were earlier reported to the Department of Justice by the US Defense Criminal Investigative Services which was subsequently endorsed to the BI for law enforcement action,” he added.
Currently, Ahmed is detained at the BI custodial facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.
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“He will remain in our immigration blacklist and banned from re-entering the Philippines after he is deported,” Viado said.
According to Viado, US authorities allege that Ahmed conspired with two accomplices to perpetrate a cyber fraud scheme by creating bogus websites that mimicked legitimate US government agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They reportedly charged victims—most of whom were military personnel—between $500 and $48,500.