Derna’s Criminal Investigation Department said it has thwarted a large fraud operation and arrested a suspect who allegedly tried to swindle a Sudanese national using “witchcraft” rituals and counterfeit props.
According to an official statement, the suspect attempted to convince the victim he could “convert” 10 billion Sudanese pounds in exchange for 28,000 Libyan dinars. He was detained at the western entrance to Derna carrying a bag filled with fake notes and ritual paraphernalia.
Investigators said the man admitted he was acting on instructions from a contact in Senegal who promised him $25 million for performing the rituals. He also acknowledged transferring worthless funds to Sudan while knowing they had no real value, the statement added.
Police seized the alleged tools of the scam, including the suspect’s mobile phone, which contained recordings purportedly documenting the scheme, as well as banking records linked to the case.
Authorities said the operation is part of broader efforts to combat crimes tied to superstition and sorcery that target citizens through increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics, and urged tighter controls on such activities.
