LAGOS, Nigeria (BN24) – In a significant move to combat cybercrime and financial fraud, Nigeria has commenced the deportation of 42 Chinese and Philippine nationals convicted of cyber terrorism and Ponzi scheme offences. The first group of deportees left Nigeria on Sunday, August 17, at 2:00 p.m. local time. These individuals were part of a larger group of 192 foreign nationals implicated in a wide-scale cyber fraud operation, initially exposed during a major police raid in December 2023.
The deportations are part of a broader crackdown on illegal online activities, with additional batches scheduled for Monday, August 18, and Tuesday, August 19. All of the convicted individuals have been transferred to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), which is handling their removal from the country.
The cybercrime syndicate, which had been operating on a large scale, was apprehended during a coordinated operation on Oyin Jolayemi Street in Victoria Island, Lagos. A total of 759 suspects were detained during the raid. The convicted foreigners, primarily Chinese and Philippine nationals, had been involved in elaborate Ponzi schemes and cyber fraud, using fake online identities to deceive and defraud victims. These fraudulent operations also included training employees of Genting International Co. Limited in deceptive and illegal practices.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which led the prosecution, confirmed that the charges included violations under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede called the convictions a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against cybercrime and financial fraud, noting the significant impact these crimes had on Nigeria’s financial security.
The EFCC stressed that these crimes were not only a direct attack on individuals but also posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s national security and financial integrity. The deportations signal Nigeria’s commitment to tackling the growing issue of cybercrime, which has increasingly become a global concern.
Keywords: Nigeria deportations, cybercrime, Ponzi schemes, financial fraud, Chinese nationals, Philippine nationals, EFCC, cyber terrorism, cyber fraud, Lagos raid
