Nigeria Exposes International Crypto Scam, 53 Suspects Face Charges

• EFCC charged 53 individuals, including 29 Chinese nationals, for involvement in a global crypto fraud network.
• Authorities seized $200,000, alleging the syndicate processed over $3 million from illegal activities.
• The raid, known as “Eagle Flush Mission,” led to the confiscation of 500 SIM cards, laptops, phones, and vehicles.

Recently, Nigerian authorities charged about 53 individuals, including 29 Chinese, 10 Filipinos, 1 Malaysian, 1 Indonesian and 1 Pakistani nationals, connected to a global cryptocurrency network that scammed victims worldwide.

They are faced with multiple charges related to “suspected cyber offenses, cyber terrorism, impersonation, possession of documents containing false pretence and identity theft, among others”- The EFCC writes. The arrest took place on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during an unexpected search of the EFCC named “Eagle Flush Mission”.

$200,000 Seized Over Alleged Crypto Scam Operations

The Economic and Financial Crime Commision seized over $200,000 in assets suggesting that “the scheme” has processed over $3m which they claim are proceeds from unlawful activities. The Federal High Court in Lagos is handling this case, and it’s alleged that they targeted victims across multiple countries.

During the operation, the EFCC confiscated about 500 Nigerian SIM cards, computers, mobile phones, laptops, and multiple vehicles from the group’s headquarters in Lagos. The EFCC claims the group made their money through Genting International Co. Limited, a company which is registered in Nigeria, and supposedly formed by foreign nationals.

 Liu Ke Fan, A Chinese defendant had an outstanding case and was charged with impersonation of a 28-year-old American woman named “Lina,” to defraud unsuspecting victims. 

Other Charges pressed stated that the group is connected to at least 792 individuals, with illicit funds through p2p exchanges and large sum bank transfers. Their operations were seen as a significant risk to Nigeria’s financial security. This case suggests the increasing success of international law enforcement in helping to reduce crypto related offenses. 

Some other defendants are: Zhang Hua Zhai; Chen Xin; Li Zhen  Peng; Guo Long Long ; Ren Jia Wen; Zhang Jian; Zhao Ying Bin; Yu Zi, Zhang Yang; Wang Zhi Chenge; Cherry De Leon; Khurram Shanzad; Fernand Fu  Fang; Tan Soon Kar; Rex Jose Dilag; Jamal Polea.

A local newspaper shared that over N2.26 billion has passed through a union bank account linked to Genting International Co.Ltd from April to December 2024. 

“Bank statements showed that the primary inflows into the account came from cryptocurrency vendors Chukwuemeka Okeke (CO) and Alhassan Aminu Garba (AA), who provided statements under caution. They reported receiving a total of $2.39 million in USDT from the syndicate through peer-to-peer trading”.

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