One Nigerian woman that was listed as one of the top 100 most dangerous and wanted fugitives in the world has been sentenced to 13 years in prison. Jeff Joy, who is said to be the head of a mafia gang, was extradited from Abuja to Italy to serve her jail term on charges of criminal conspiracy, enslavement, human trafficking, and exploitation of prostitution. Reports indicate that Joy had been on an Italian wanted list for a long time before her extradition.
According to a statement by the Italian National Police, their investigations into Joy date back to 2007, during which time she played a significant role in the management of prostitution between Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. The business was characterized by violence and threats, including against the families of girls in Nigeria. The police noted that Joy was one of the few women included in the list of 100 dangerous fugitives compiled by the integrated joint group for the search for fugitives of the Central Directorate of the Criminal Police.
Her extradition to Italy represents the first provision under the extradition treaty signed between Italy and Nigeria in 2020. It was made possible through the joint work of the Nigerian judiciary, the Italian ambassador in Nigeria, and the Italian Ministry of Justice. The Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian intelligence service, arrested Joy on June 4, 2022, following an investigation by officials of the International Police Cooperation Service (SCIP) in the African country and the issuance of a red notice in 2010.
Joy was reportedly responsible for receiving potential Nigerian victims of human trafficking upon their arrival in Italy and managing their operations as they settled in the country. Her sentence of 13 years in prison is for criminal activities related to the prostitution business she managed.
