The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has commenced the deportation of 42 foreign nationals—comprising Chinese and Philippine citizens—convicted for their involvement in cyberterrorism and large-scale Ponzi scheme operations across the country.
The deportees are part of a total of 192 convicts linked to one of Nigeria’s largest cybercrime crackdowns in recent history. The individuals were arrested in a sweeping joint operation conducted on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. A total of 759 suspects were initially taken into custody.
According to immigration officials, the first batch of convicts departed Nigeria on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. local time through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The remaining convicts are scheduled to be repatriated in phases, with deportations continuing on Monday and Tuesday.
“Whether it’s a criminal offence or a visa violation, deportation is standard once a sentence is served. In this case, these individuals committed serious crimes and cannot be allowed to remain in Nigeria,” a senior immigration official at the airport confirmed on condition of anonymity.
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Cybercrime Syndicate Busted
Investigations revealed that the syndicate had been operating under the cover of Genting International Co. Limited, where it ran an elaborate network involving identity theft, online fraud, and Ponzi operations targeted at victims within and outside Nigeria.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which prosecuted the offenders, disclosed that the group engaged in training staff for fraudulent practices and used fake identities to perpetrate cybercrimes.
EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, described the deportation as a “significant milestone” in Nigeria’s ongoing anti-corruption and cybercrime battle.
“These convictions send a strong signal that Nigeria will not serve as a haven for cybercriminals,” Olukoyede said. “We are committed to investigations, recovery of stolen assets, and protecting the financial integrity of the country in line with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption agenda.”
He also noted that the offences violated the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and were calculated to undermine both national security and economic stability.
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Low-Profile Operation for Security Reasons
Immigration officers involved in the operation stated that the deportation was conducted with minimal public attention for security and diplomatic sensitivity.
“We are not driven by publicity but by results. Our job is national security,” one official told Stone Reporters News. “Some of these individuals are still under surveillance. We are quietly doing the work to protect our borders.”
Another security source from a sister agency added that foreign nationals involved in criminal activities would not be allowed to operate in Nigeria, emphasizing that deportation was not merely an immigration issue, but a response to criminal offences against the state.
“It is critical to ensure that the Nigerian public is not wrongly blamed for the actions of foreign syndicates,” he said.
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Ongoing Crackdown on Transnational Crimes
Security agencies say more arrests and deportations are expected as investigations continue. Several other foreign nationals are currently being monitored for similar crimes.
The EFCC and NIS have reiterated their commitment to rooting out transnational criminal networks, reinforcing Nigeria’s message to the international community: “Nigeria is not a safe haven for fraudsters.”
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