More than $3 million (£2.3m) was stolen in a Nigerian email scam that was run from an Australian detention centre, police revealed yesterday. 

The  operation, defrauding businesses and stealing identities, was conducted using using at least 16 mobile phones at the Villawood Detention Centre, a Sydney court heard. 

New South Wales police spokesman Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis said he believed most of the money had been sent to Nigeria and it was “highly unlikely” any of it would be recovered.

He said people had taken their own lives after losing their savings.

“It’s costing taxpayers millions of dollars every year, not only in Australia but worldwide, and that’s why it’s important to identify these people.”

Authorities have warned of the use of mobile phones in detention centres and have called for them to be banned. 

The court hearing was ongoing at the time the Star went to print.