The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deported 192 foreign nationals convicted of cybercrime, internet fraud, and related financial offences, following months of joint operations with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
The exercise, which ended on October 16, 2025, saw the last batch of 51 convicts — including 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian — repatriated from Nigeria.
According to EFCC sources, the deportation followed their conviction by the Federal High Court, Lagos, over a massive cyber-fraud and Ponzi scheme operation that rocked Victoria Island late last year.
The operation stemmed from a sting raid on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, where 759 suspects linked to a network operating under the guise of Genting International Co. Limited were arrested.
Investigations revealed that the syndicate was involved in crypto-related fraud, identity theft, and online investment scams, targeting both Nigerian and foreign victims.
The EFCC said earlier deportation batches included convicts from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Timor-Leste. All were found guilty of large-scale cybercrime, money laundering, and running fake digital trading platforms.
“These individuals used sophisticated online tools to defraud unsuspecting investors globally, while also training local recruits to sustain their operations,” a senior EFCC official disclosed under anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.
The Commission added that the collaborative effort with the NIS and NCoS was part of a renewed inter-agency strategy to rid Nigeria of cross-border cybercrime syndicates.
A senior immigration officer confirmed that the deportation was carried out “in strict compliance with international protocols,” adding that none of the convicts would be allowed to re-enter Nigeria.
Security analysts have described the operation as one of Nigeria’s biggest coordinated anti-cybercrime actions in recent years, marking a rare instance of multi-agency efficiency between the EFCC, Immigration, and Correctional Service.
The EFCC, in recent months, has intensified its clampdown on foreign-linked cyber syndicates operating across Lagos and Abuja, amid growing concerns about Nigeria’s reputation as a hub for internet-related crimes.
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