The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) deported 51 foreign nationals convicted of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s crackdown on transnational cybercrime.
The group, comprising 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian, brings the total number of deported foreign convicts to 102 since the operation began on August 15, 2025.
The deportees were among 192 foreign nationals arrested in a major EFCC sting operation in December 2024 at a seven-story building on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, dubbed “Operation Eagle Flush.”
The syndicate, primarily led by foreign nationals, was accused of orchestrating large-scale cyber fraud and Ponzi schemes, including romance and investment scams targeting victims globally.
The operation saw 759 arrests, including Nigerians and foreigners, with the EFCC alleging the group used advanced technology and social engineering to defraud victims via platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede described the deportations as “a milestone in Nigeria’s fight against cybercrime,” emphasizing the agency’s commitment to recovering stolen funds and aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda.
The convicts, sentenced to one-year imprisonment with a ₦1 million fine each by the Federal High Court in Lagos, were handed over to the NIS for deportation upon completing their terms.
The syndicate reportedly operated under the guise of a legitimate corporate entity, Genting International Co. Limited, training Nigerian recruits to impersonate foreign identities for scams.
One floor of the building housed 500 SIM cards, with recruits using scripts and fake personas to target victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. The EFCC also secured the forfeiture of $222,729.86 in digital assets linked to the syndicate.
Further deportations are scheduled in the coming days, with the EFCC vowing to intensify investigations into foreign-led cybercrime networks.
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