The final batch of 51 convicts, comprising 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian, was deported on October 16, 2025, concluding a months-long repatriation effort following a landmark anti-cybercrime operation.

The deportations stem from a major sting operation conducted by the EFCC on December 10, 2024, at a seven-story building on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where 759 suspects were arrested. 

The group, believed to be part of a sophisticated syndicate operating under the guise of Genting International Co. Limited, included 192 foreign nationals from China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Timor-Leste, alongside their Nigerian accomplices. 

The Federal High Court in Lagos convicted the foreigners for offenses including cybercrime, money laundering, and Ponzi scheme operations, sentencing them to one-year imprisonment and fines.

The deportation process began on August 15, 2025, with the first batch of 42 convicts, primarily Chinese and Filipino nationals. 

Subsequent batches were repatriated through August and September, culminating in the final group of 51 on October 16, in line with court directives and immigration protocols. 

Investigations revealed the syndicate’s involvement in large-scale online fraud, identity theft, and cyber-enabled Ponzi schemes, with the group training recruits and managing fraudulent digital platforms targeting victims locally and internationally.

EFCC officials confirmed that the operation, driven by credible intelligence, exposed a highly organized network designed to exploit Nigeria’s digital infrastructure for global scams. 

The successful prosecution and deportation shows Nigeria’s commitment to combating transnational cybercrime and protecting its financial ecosystem. 

The NIS executed the deportations as mandated, ensuring compliance with legal and diplomatic procedures.