A Nigerian court has ordered the interim forfeiture of 73 properties and thousands of electronic devices tied to a sprawling internet fraud operation allegedly run by Chinese nationals, according to the country’s anti-corruption agency.
In a statement released this week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the court ruling followed a sweeping investigation into a cybercrime syndicate arrested in December 2024 during a major operation in the upscale Victoria Island district of Lagos.
The EFCC stated, “The Lagos court has ordered the interim forfeiture of 73 properties, including 1,596 laptop computers recovered from Chinese involved in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.”
The crackdown was part of a coordinated enforcement move that led to the arrest of 792 suspects on December 10. Of those, 192 were foreign nationals, including 148 Chinese citizens.
“They are members of the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 10, 2024,” the agency confirmed.
In addition to the properties and laptops, authorities also seized thousands of mobile phones, hundreds of bunk beds believed to have been used to house syndicate members, and over 400 deep freezers.
The EFCC argued before the court that the seized items were “suspected to be instruments” used in perpetrating computer-related fraud and money laundering activities. The forfeiture order marks one of the largest property seizures linked to a cybercrime network in Nigeria’s history.
Africa’s most populous nation has long struggled with a reputation for internet fraud, often attributed to domestic scammers known colloquially as “Yahoo Boys.” However, law enforcement officials warn that international crime networks are increasingly exploiting Nigeria’s limited cybersecurity infrastructure.
Cybercrime analysts have raised concerns about the growing presence of foreign syndicates in the region, noting that Nigeria is becoming a hub for international cybercrime operations due to its digital vulnerabilities.
The EFCC said foreign crime gangs have been recruiting Nigerian operatives to lure unsuspecting victims—primarily from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe—through phishing campaigns and romance scams.
In response, international agencies have ramped up their involvement. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced it is spearheading a global operation aimed at dismantling financially motivated sextortion rings operating from Nigeria.
“Its investigations have led to the arrests of 22 Nigerian subjects connected to financially motivated sextortion schemes,” the FBI confirmed in a recent statement.
As global pressure mounts on cybercriminal operations, Nigerian authorities have pledged to continue aggressive enforcement and international cooperation in the fight against digital fraud.
