LAGOS, Nigeria – The Nigeria Police Force, acting through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja, has extradited Samuel Ugberease – known online as “Putsammy,” “Putput” and “Sammy” – to the United States to face charges of online romance‑scamming, wire fraud and related financial crimes.
The suspect, who was residing in South Africa before his arrest, was handed over to U.S. authorities on Wednesday after extradition proceedings concluded and both countries coordinated their law‑enforcement efforts. A statement signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Okon Placid, the force’s public‑relations officer, confirmed the hand‑over and outlined the investigation’s findings.
Police say that between 2014 and 2018 Ugberease and a group of accomplices operated a sophisticated syndicate that targeted women in the United States, especially in North Carolina’s Eastern District. The ring created fictitious online identities and dating profiles, cultivated emotional relationships with victims and then coerced them into sending large sums of money by inventing emergencies or urgent financial needs.
Investigators traced the proceeds of the fraud through a network of bank accounts used to receive, process and conceal illicit funds. In one documented case, the scheme allegedly swindled a victim of more than US$1.5 million.
Ugberease was first detained by INTERPOL officers at Lagos’ Murtala Mohammed International Airport on 14 December 2025, shortly after arriving from South Africa. His arrest followed a U.S.‑issued INTERPOL Red Notice. The Federal High Court in Lagos subsequently approved the extradition request under Nigeria’s Extradition Act (CAP E25, 2004).
The police force highlighted the operation as an example of how international cooperation and intelligence‑led policing can disrupt transnational cybercrime. “We remain committed to leveraging INTERPOL tools and our global partnerships to combat financial fraud and other organised criminal activities,” DCP Placid said, adding that the force will continue to work closely with foreign agencies to safeguard both Nigerian and international victims.
The extradition underscores the growing emphasis on cross‑border collaboration in the fight against online fraud, a crime that increasingly affects individuals and institutions worldwide. Ugberease now faces U.S. federal prosecution, and his case is expected to proceed through the courts later this year.
