The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has commenced the deportation of 192 foreigners convicted for their involvement in a massive internet fraud syndicate and Ponzi Scheme. The first batch of 42 convicts, comprising Chinese and Filipino nationals, was deported on Sunday, following a court order mandating their removal from the country.

The deportees were part of a larger group of 192 foreign nationals arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in December 2024 during what was described as the “largest single-day” operation against internet fraudsters in Nigeria.

They were fined N1 million each by the court, which also directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to repatriate them to their countries of origin within seven days on completion of the jail term.

The anti-graft agency in December 2024 nabbed them and 600 Nigerians, in building on Victoria Island, Lagos, secured final forfeiture of $222,729 digital assets seized from some of them.  

The foreigners were said to be using the building on Oyin Jolayemi to “train Nigerians on how to initiate romance and investment scams.”

 According to court documents, the syndicate’s company, Genting International Co. Limited, received more than N2.26 billion between April and December last year.

A statement by the EFCC on the foreigners’ deportation reads: ‘’The Nigerian Immigration Service will today(yesterday), deport 42 out of the 192 Chinese and Philippine nationals convicted for cyber terrorism and Ponzi scheme offences back to their home countries.

‘’Other deportees will depart Nigeria on Monday(today) and Tuesday respectively and will be airlifted back to their countries.

‘’All the convicts were handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for deportation.

“Several of the charges included allegations of using fake identities online to defraud victims, training employees of Genting International Co. Limited in fraudulent practices, and other offences under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.’’