EFCC Raids 7-Storey VI Building, Catches 700+ International Fraudsters

The EFCC has dismantled a massive international fraud syndicate operating from a seven-story building in Victoria Island, Lagos, in an operation code-named Eagle Flush. Over 700 suspects were arrested, including 194 foreign nationals from Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Africa. This was not your average Yahoo Boys operation — this was a sophisticated network embedded deep within Nigeria's financial and digital infrastructure.

Zonal Commander Abbah Sambo Usman led the investigation, which involved weeks of surveillance on the syndicate's base at 7 Ujolayemi Street, known locally as the Big Leaf Building. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede confirmed that operatives monitored the syndicate's activities for three weeks before launching the raid on December 10, 2024. He stated: "What we found was unlike anything we've seen before. This wasn't just a local scam ring — it was an international operation using Nigerian soil as its base."

The syndicate recruited members through online platforms, subjecting applicants to typing tests before assigning them fabricated digital identities. Each recruit created 10 to 15 fake profiles daily, engaging unsuspecting foreigners in romantic or investment scams while masking their IP addresses to appear as though they were operating from Europe or Asia. Over 3,000 SIM cards, 1,500 desktop computers, and 400 mobile phones were recovered. As of July 2024, 183 suspects have been convicted, with over 100 foreign nationals deported. Olukoyede praised President Tinubu for providing the support that enabled this operation, warning that cybercriminals will find no safe haven in Nigeria.