Over 10 days after the arrest of Dubai-based Nigerian, Ray Hushpuppi, the police in Dubai have finally released a video clip that captured the operation that led to the internet fraudster’s arrest.
Africa Daily News, New York got the clip from a reputable Dubai media source.
Clips from the arrest scene were included in a feature story that gave a deeper insight into cyber-crime in the country and the involvement of Hushpuppi and his gang.
A portion of the clip captured the moment some heavily armed police officers arrived at Hushpuppi’s hotel.
From indications, Hushpuppi and his crew completely had no idea of what was ahead of them as the police officers broke into their apartment unannounced.
This was followed by the officers shouting orders once they gained entry and arresting everyone present.
Hushpuppi was spotted donned in a designer outfit with his two hands cuffed to the back.
Read Also: Dubai Police Seizes $40.9m Cash From Hushpuppi, Explains Arrest
Another individual identified as Woodberry alongside some other unidentified crew members were also seen in handcuffs.
Speaking on the operation, the commander-in-chief of the police in Dubai, Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, was quoted to have said: “The arrest of ‘Hushpuppi’, ‘Woodberry’ & 10 gang members involved in money laundry & cyber fraud activities, is another achievement added to the proud record of Dubai police in ensuring the emirate’s security and safety.“ (TRANSLATED)
Dubbed “Fox Hunt 2”, the operation revealed a hidden online fraud network that was committing crimes outside the UAE, including money-laundering, cyber fraud, hacking, criminal impersonating, scamming individuals, banking fraud and identity theft.
Police said the raid resulted in seizure of incriminating documents pertaining to a well-planned international fraud worth Dh1.6 billion.
Lt General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-In-Chief of Dubai Police, said the success of the operation is another feather in the cap of Dubai Police.
“Dubai Police stand against money laundering and organised cyber fraud and online scams. We are up to date with the latest technologies and methods that gangs use in their crimes. We have a qualified team of officers to stand up against cybercrimes,” Lt Gen Al Merri said.
Brigadier Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, Director of Criminal Investigation Department at Dubai Police, said they received information about a gang specialised in money laundering and online scams.
“The gang including Hushpuppi, known for his display of wealth on social media. He would pose as a businessman to lure victims from all around the world. A team of Dubai Police monitored the gang that was creating accounts on social media with fake names,” Brig Al Jallaf said.
Hushpuppi often posts pictures with his luxury cars like Ferrari and Rolls Royce and a private jet.
According to Dubai Police, the gang used to hack corporate emails and send fake emails to corporate customers to change money transfers to the gang’s personal banking accounts.
“They were designing and mimicking company and bank websites to steal credit card data and illegally obtain victims’ money before laundering the cash,” Brig Al Jallaf added.
During the arrest, police found a huge amount of data on individuals, companies, bank accounts, credit cards as well as documents of money laundering, online fraud and hacking accounts of victims outside the UAE.
“The forged documents pertained to online fraud outside the country. The fraud was worth more than Dh1.6 billion. We seized more than Dh150 million in cash from them and confiscated 13 luxury cars worth Dh25 million,” Brig Al Jallaf said.
Police confiscated 21 computers, 47 smartphones, 15 memory cards, five hard disks containing 119,580 fraud files as well as addresses of nearly two million victims.
After further investigations and analysing confiscated items, Dubai Police uncovered sensitive information and files condemning the gang’s illegal activities.
Moreover, Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, said that six SWAT teams raided the locations of the gang during zero hour.
“The operation was carried out in a highly professional manner to net all gang members. ‘Fox Hunt2’ foiled the gang’s bid to deceive many victims across the world as they were planning to obtain their money,” Maj Gen Al Mansouri said.
In a related story about Hushpuppi, the chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, came out to say that Hushpuppi must be made to face the full wrath of the law.
According to the NIDCOM chairman, fraudsters like him are responsible for ruining the image of honest Nigerians who work multiple jobs abroad.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
