Greater Noida | A major international cybercrime network has been exposed in Greater Noida of Delhi-NCR, where the cyber crime team arrested two Nigerian nationals allegedly linked to the global cyber fraud module known as “Solar Spider.” Investigators say the group was planning to exploit vulnerabilities in cooperative banking systems to siphon off tens of crores of rupees through coordinated cyber attacks.
According to investigators, the arrested accused have been identified as Okechukwu Imeka and Chinedu Okafor. Both foreign nationals were reportedly operating from Greater Noida and were involved in running a cybercrime network targeting financial institutions. Preliminary findings suggest the duo were part of a wider international fraud syndicate with links to cybercrime groups operating across multiple countries.
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The case came to light after cyber investigators received intelligence inputs indicating that a module associated with the “Solar Spider” threat group had recently become active and was preparing to target banking infrastructure on a large scale. Following the tip-off, cyber specialists initiated technical surveillance and began monitoring suspicious digital activity.
After tracking the suspects’ movements and online operations, investigators conducted a raid at a location in Greater Noida and arrested the two accused. During the operation, several digital devices and financial records were seized for forensic examination.
Investigations revealed that the group had specifically targeted cooperative banks, which often operate with comparatively weaker cybersecurity infrastructure. The accused allegedly studied vulnerabilities in banking systems and developed a plan to carry out large-scale unauthorized transfers. Their strategy involved diverting funds from targeted banks into multiple “mule accounts,” which are bank accounts used to temporarily store and move illicit money.
Once the money was transferred into these accounts, the accused allegedly planned to convert the funds into cryptocurrency and move them overseas, making the trail difficult to trace. Investigators believe the gang was preparing to transfer between ₹60 crore and ₹80 crore through this method.
Authorities further discovered that between March 7 and March 8, the suspects had already managed to fraudulently transfer approximately ₹7 crore from a cooperative bank located in Gujarat. Cybercriminals often conduct such operations during weekends, when banks remain closed and monitoring systems may be less active, allowing fraudulent transactions to go undetected for longer periods.
As soon as suspicious transactions were flagged, alerts were issued to financial institutions and cybersecurity monitoring agencies. Timely intervention helped prevent further unauthorized transfers that could have resulted in losses of several crores.
Investigators believe the accused were not acting alone and were connected to an international cybercrime network. Initial digital evidence indicates links to organized cyber fraud groups operating in Nigeria and South Africa, suggesting the operation was part of a broader cross-border financial crime ecosystem.
Cybersecurity analysts note that international cybercrime syndicates increasingly focus on exploiting technical weaknesses in financial systems. A cybersecurity researcher said such groups operate in highly organized structures, often combining technical hacking methods with financial fraud networks to move illicit funds quickly across borders.
During interrogation, investigators recovered key digital evidence, including laptops, mobile phones and data linked to several suspicious bank accounts. Forensic examination of these devices is currently underway to identify other individuals connected to the network and to trace the full money trail.
Authorities also revealed that a similar module linked to the “Solar Spider” network had been uncovered in India in 2025. That case also indicated the involvement of foreign nationals working with local operatives to carry out cyber financial crimes.
For now, investigators are continuing to question the arrested suspects in order to identify the full structure of the network operating in India. Officials believe the probe could lead to further arrests in the coming days as more digital evidence is analyzed.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said,
“International cyber gangs frequently rely on a mix of social engineering techniques, banking system vulnerabilities and complex digital money trails to carry out large-scale fraud. He emphasized that both banks and customers must remain vigilant and strengthen cybersecurity measures to prevent such sophisticated cyber attacks.”
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
