EFCC Cracks Down on Cybercrime Syndicate: 193 Foreign Nationals Arrested in Lagos Raid
In a significant blow to global cybercrime, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 193 foreign nationals as part of a sweeping operation targeting a cryptocurrency and romance fraud syndicate operating out of Lagos.
Ola Olukoyede, Executive Chairman of the EFCC, announced the arrests on Monday, describing the raid as a decisive victory against financial crime. Speaking at a press briefing at the Lagos Zonal Directorate, Olukoyede revealed that the 193 foreign suspects were among 792 individuals apprehended last Tuesday at the seven-storey Big Leaf Building, located on Oyin Jolayemi Street in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The suspects include 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, two Kazakhstani citizens, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian, alongside a cohort of Nigerian accomplices. According to Olukoyede, the foreign syndicate used the facility—designed to resemble a corporate financial headquarters—as a hub to train young Nigerians in elaborate cyber-fraud schemes.
“This is a significant victory in our fight against financial crimes. These criminals, both local and foreign, thought Nigeria would be a haven, but we’ve proved otherwise,” Olukoyede stated.
Investigations revealed that the syndicate lured victims using fabricated social media profiles on platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. Under the guise of developing romantic connections or lucrative investment opportunities, victims were drawn into fraudulent schemes hosted on a fake platform, www.yooto.com, where entry fees began at $35.
Once targets were ensnared, the EFCC noted, the foreign ringleaders assumed control of the operation, sidelining their Nigerian trainees. The Nigerians—recruited and trained without formal contracts—were paid in cash or through personal bank accounts, ensuring no traceable financial transactions.
During the raid, EFCC operatives uncovered a vast network of cybercrime infrastructure, including high-end desktop computers, mobile phones, laptops, and SIM cards. Investigators found 500 SIM cards linked to local telecom networks on a single floor of the building, signalling the operation’s scale and sophistication.
Olukoyede underscored the international dimension of the operation, stating, “These foreigners exploited Nigeria’s reputation as a hub for online fraud to disguise their criminal enterprises. Not all scams originating from Nigeria are carried out by Nigerians.”
The EFCC confirmed that items seized are undergoing forensic analysis, and all suspects remain in custody under valid remand warrants. The commission is collaborating with international partners to trace links to global criminal networks and ensure the prosecution of those involved.
“This operation sends a clear message: criminals, whether local or foreign, will find no hiding place in Nigeria,” Olukoyede declared, adding that the crackdown forms part of broader efforts to restore Nigeria’s tarnished reputation and deliver justice to victims worldwide.
As cyber-fraud continues to proliferate globally, the EFCC’s intervention marks a turning point in Nigeria’s battle against financial crimes—highlighting the country’s resolve to dismantle both local and international fraud syndicates.
