The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) will today, Sunday, August 18, 2025, commence the deportation of 42 Chinese and Philippine nationals convicted of cyber terrorism and Ponzi scheme offences.

Naijaonpoint reports that the deportees, who form the first batch out of 192 convicted foreigners, are scheduled to depart Nigeria this afternoon. They were among the 759 suspects arrested during a major raid on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the NIS, the repatriation exercise will continue on Monday and Tuesday, when additional batches will be airlifted to their home countries.

The syndicate had been running a large-scale cyber fraud and Ponzi scheme before security agencies swooped on them in one of Nigeria’s biggest anti-cybercrime operations.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which prosecuted the cases, confirmed that 192 foreigners, comprising both Chinese and Philippine nationals, were convicted in connection with the fraudulent activities.

The EFCC disclosed that the charges included the use of fake online identities to defraud victims, training staff of Genting International Co. Limited in fraudulent practices, and other violations under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

Speaking on the development, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, hailed the deportations as a significant achievement in Nigeria’s anti-corruption war.

He reiterated the Commission’s resolve to intensify investigations, recover looted funds, and restore national dignity in line with President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption drive.

The December 2024 raid, which resulted in the arrest of over 700 suspects, is regarded as one of the most extensive crackdowns on transnational financial crimes in Nigeria’s history.