By Deborah Akpede
The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Lagos, has apprehended a syndicate involved in large-scale movie piracy, copyright infringement, and other cyber-enabled offences targeting Nigeria’s creative industry.
The FCID Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Aminat Mayegun, confirmed the arrest while briefing journalists on Wednesday in Lagos.
She said the operation was launched following a petition by FilmOne Entertainment Ltd.
“The company reported that its film ‘Owambe Thieves’ had been unlawfully uploaded on TikTok on Aug. 23.
“The suspect behind the upload allegedly charged viewers N1,000 for access to a pirated copy of the full movie. The petition was accompanied by screenshots, payment records, and documents proving ownership of the film,” she said.
Mayegun said that acting on coordinated intelligence, FCID operatives apprehended the prime suspect, who reportedly confessed to sourcing the movie from an illegal website.
“The suspect admitted to editing scenes for TikTok engagement and distributing the full pirated film via WhatsApp for a fee.
“In his confession, he revealed that he sold copies to more than 50 individuals and was involved in the piracy of other Nollywood films, including Farmer’s Bride, Thinline, and Alakada: Bad and Bourjee.
“A forensic analysis of two seized devices, an iPhone 15 Pro and an iPhone SE, uncovered extensive evidence,” she said.
The PPRO said investigators found multiple pirated movie files as well as lists of recipients who received the films through WhatsApp and Telegram channels, adding that financial forensics also linked the suspect to sustained illicit activity.
She said police discovered inflows and outflows totalling N7.6 million in his OPay account between Aug. 20 and Oct. 29, indicating steady revenue from cyber-enabled piracy and related fraud.
Mayegun said the successful operation reflected the FCID’s unwavering commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and shielding Nigeria’s film industry from economic sabotage perpetrated through digital platforms.
In a separate major operation, Mayegun said the police intercepted a large consignment containing 300 rounds of live ammunition and several contraband items after credible intelligence was received by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mrs Margaret Ochalla.
She said the driver of the container was apprehended and taken to the FCID Annex for questioning.
“A thorough search of the shipment, conducted in the presence of the clearing agent and suspected receivers, led to the recovery of 300 rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a Nissan Frontier.
“Others are two Toyota Sienna vans, a Scion XA vehicle, 24 bags of foreign rice, seven bales of used clothing, cartons of vegetable oil, and other household items, and five suspects were apprehended.
“Investigations linked the shipment to a U.S.-based sender who failed to declare the ammunition, while a self-acclaimed retired U.S. Marine attempted to claim ownership without providing identification.
“The FCID is probing possible ties to wider criminal and arms-trafficking networks in collaboration with Customs and the DSS,” she added.
The PPRO said Ochalla reaffirmed the FCID’s commitment to combating arms trafficking, contraband smuggling, and cybercrime, urging the public to continue providing credible information to support security efforts. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)