Breaking: EFCC, NIS, NCoS Complete Deportation of 192 Foreigners Convicted for Cyber-Terrorism in Lagos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), has completed the deportation of 192 foreign nationals convicted for cyber-terrorism, internet fraud, and related financial crimes in Lagos.

The final batch of 51 convicts—comprising 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian—was repatriated on October 16, 2025, marking the conclusion of a deportation exercise that began on August 15, 2025.

The exercise followed the conviction of the offenders by the Federal High Court in Lagos for offences bordering on cybercrime, money laundering, and Ponzi scheme operations. Their convictions stemmed from a major sting operation conducted by the EFCC on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, which led to the arrest of 759 suspects.

The first batch of 42 convicts, made up of Chinese and Filipino nationals, was deported on August 15, 2025. Subsequent batches followed throughout August and September before the final phase in October.

In total, the 192 deported convicts included nationals from China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Timor-Leste. They were deported in compliance with court directives and immigration procedures.

Investigations revealed that the foreigners operated under the guise of Genting International Co. Limited, in collaboration with their Nigerian accomplices. They were found to be part of a sophisticated cybercrime and Ponzi scheme syndicate involved in large-scale online fraud, identity theft, and cyber-enabled investment scams.

According to the EFCC, credible intelligence and evidence gathered during the operation confirmed that the convicts managed fraudulent digital platforms and trained local recruits to defraud victims both in Nigeria and abroad.

The NIS carried out the deportation following court orders, bringing the international cybercrime case to a decisive end.