The Nigerian government, in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), has deported 192 foreign nationals convicted of cyberterrorism, internet fraud, and affiliated financial crimes.
In a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the final group of 51 convicts, consisting of 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian, was deported on Wednesday, October 16, 2025, as part of deportations that commenced in August 2025, following their conviction by the Federal High Court in Lagos State.
The mass deportation took place as a result of the arrest and subsequent prosecution of 759 suspects during a significant sting operation carried out on December 10, 2024, on Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The deportation process began on Friday, August 15, 2025, after the court imposed sentences on offenders for crimes related to cybercrime, money laundering, and Ponzi scheme activities.
The initial group, comprising 42 convicts primarily of Chinese and Filipino nationality, was deported on August 15. Additional groups were deported throughout August and September, culminating in the deportation of the final 51 convicts in mid-October.
In total, 192 convicts were repatriated to their home countries, which included China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Timor-Leste, in accordance with court orders and immigration protocols.
The EFCC indicated that all deported convicts were apprehended alongside their Nigerian accomplices, who are believed to have been part of a sophisticated cybercrime and Ponzi scheme syndicate operating under the guise of Genting International Co. Limited.
This operation, which was based on “credible, actionable intelligence,” revealed an extensive network engaged in large-scale online fraud, identity theft, and cyber-enabled Ponzi schemes. Investigations revealed that the foreign nationals were instrumental in training Nigerian recruits and managing fraudulent digital platforms designed to deceive victims both locally and internationally.
The Federal High Court mandated the deportation of these offenders upon the completion of their sentences. The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) executed the deportation in coordination with the EFCC and NCoS to ensure adherence to legal and diplomatic protocols.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) characterized this initiative as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts against transnational cybercrime, reinforcing its commitment to international collaboration in the fight against financial and digital fraud.