EFCC warns that visa leniency and loose rental regulations enabled foreign-led cybercrime rings, calling for reform and stronger regional cooperation.
Nigeria’s anti-fraud agency had 194 foreign nationals in custody in 2024, prosecuting 146 for their roles in cyber-enabled financial crimes, highlighting a robust response to a growing threat.
December alone saw nearly 800 arrests in Lagos, targeting romance and cryptocurrency investment scams featuring foreign ringleaders from China and the Philippines. In one case, 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino suspects were detained.
These groups established complex fraud operations in major Nigerian cities, using fake identities and training local recruits, often unaware of the ultimate scheme. Investigations also flagged cryptocurrency-fuelled money laundering and arms trafficking, pointing to wider national security risks.
EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede warned that regulatory failures, such as visa oversight and unchecked office space leasing, facilitated foreign crime cells.
National and continental collaboration, tighter visa control, and strengthened cybercrime frameworks will be key to dismantling these networks and securing Nigeria’s digital economy.
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