EFCC Nabs 148 Chinese Nationals, 645 Others for Cyberfraud and Romance Scams in Major Lagos Raid
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully arrested 793 individuals, including 193 foreign nationals, in a major operation targeting a cybercrime and cryptocurrency fraud syndicate in Lagos. The arrests, which took place during a raid on Tuesday, were made at the seven-storey Big Leaf Building, located at No. 7 Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, announced the bust during a press conference at the Lagos Zonal Directorate, revealing that among the suspects were 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, two Kazakhstani citizens, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian. These foreign suspects are alleged to have been involved in running a sophisticated fraud ring that engaged in romance scams and cryptocurrency investment fraud.
Olukoyede, represented by EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, stated that the foreign nationals used the building, which appeared to be a legitimate financial establishment, to recruit and train Nigerian accomplices in executing cyber fraud. The Nigerians were trained to initiate fraudulent communications on social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. The scammers used fake profiles to lure victims into investing on a fraudulent platform, www.yooto.com, where they were charged activation fees starting at $35.
The foreign suspects were said to have taken over the operations once the victims were hooked, cutting out their Nigerian collaborators from the financial transactions. Olukoyede revealed that Nigerian accomplices were neither formally employed nor paid through corporate channels but instead received cash payments or funds via personal bank accounts.
“This significant operation highlights that not all scams originating from Nigeria are carried out by Nigerians,” Olukoyede remarked. He emphasized that the raid and arrests marked a decisive victory in the EFCC’s ongoing battle against financial crimes, asserting that Nigeria would not serve as a haven for such activities.
During the raid, EFCC agents seized a range of items, including high-end desktop computers, mobile phones, laptops, and vehicles from the suspects. The suspects have made statements, and their devices are currently undergoing forensic analysis. The EFCC is working closely with international partners to investigate potential global crime links.
Olukoyede concluded, “This operation sends a clear message: criminals, whether local or foreign, will find no refuge in Nigeria. We will continue our efforts to combat financial crimes and restore Nigeria’s reputation on the global stage.” The arrested individuals are expected to face prosecution soon.