GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – A Nigerian man has been sentenced to six years in prison for his involvement in a series of romance and package delivery scams that defrauded multiple Guyanese victims out of millions of dollars in 2022.
Matthew Ejike Nwachukwu was convicted on Thursday and handed three-year sentences for each of two counts, to be served consecutively. His sentencing follows a detailed investigation led by Guyana’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), which uncovered Nwachukwu’s role in a sophisticated fraud operation.
According to SOCU, Nwachukwu collaborated with a foreign-based ringleader—believed to be a German national—who posed as a romantic partner to victims across Guyana. One victim testified that she had entered a long-distance relationship with someone claiming to be German. She was later informed that valuable packages, including diamonds, were being sent to her via FedEx.
Soon after, she received a call from a foreign number instructing her to pay GUY$155,000 to retrieve the parcels from the post office. Fearing confiscation under money laundering suspicions, she made the payment—only to discover it was a scam. SOCU’s investigation revealed Nwachukwu had coordinated local agents to collect the funds for the international fraudster.
Nwachukwu was arrested and remanded in September 2022. His conviction marks a significant milestone in efforts to dismantle a wider network of romance scams reportedly operated by Nigerian nationals targeting Guyanese citizens.
Authorities say the German ringleader and other accomplices remain at large. The SOCU is continuing its investigation and has urged the public to remain vigilant when engaging in online relationships, particularly those involving financial requests or promises of valuable shipments.
Law enforcement agencies continue tracking the broader criminal network behind the scams as investigations remain active.
