Nineteen people have been arrested and 117 suspected human trafficking victims identified at Sasaabi, a suburb of Accra, as Ghanaian authorities joined an international operation targeting criminal networks running online scam centres.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of 303 electronic devices, according to the United States Department of Justice. The identified trafficking victims, who are Nigerian nationals, are awaiting repatriation to Nigeria.
Investigators also identified 89 additional victims of online fraud schemes, with financial losses estimated at $8.3 million, highlighting the economic impact of the criminal activities targeted by the operation.
The Ghana operation formed part of “Joint Disruption Week,” a coordinated international enforcement exercise launched during the week beginning October 6 to dismantle online scam networks operating across West Africa.
Ghana, Nigeria lead regional crackdown
The initiative targeted scam centres in Ghana, Nigeria and other African countries through real-time intelligence sharing between law enforcement agencies and technology companies.
In Ghana, the Cyber Security Authority, the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service and the National Security Service led the operation, with support from the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The latest enforcement action followed another operation in Ghana during the final week of September, when authorities conducted raids at six locations, arrested scores of suspects, identified 34 trafficking victims and seized 129 electronic devices.
The US Department of Justice described Joint Disruption Week as the first coordinated international enforcement effort specifically focused on West African scam networks.
Across the exercise, authorities arrested 28 people, comprising 19 in Ghana and nine in Nigeria. Nigerian authorities also seized 53 electronic devices.
Multiple online fraud schemes uncovered
Investigators uncovered several forms of online fraud, including schemes in which criminals impersonated law enforcement officers, used fake digital arrest threats to extort victims, and promoted fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.
The schemes targeted victims in the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries, generating significant financial losses.
The operation also highlighted the human trafficking and exploitation associated with organised scam centres, where victims can be coerced into participating in fraudulent activities.
US Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva commended law enforcement officers in Ghana and Nigeria for their role in the operation.
“I am especially grateful to the courageous law enforcement officers in Ghana and Nigeria who put themselves in harm’s way to seize evidence and arrest the criminals who prey on innocent people,” he said.
Technology companies remove millions of accounts
Beyond the arrests and seizures, participating technology companies reported removing more than 3.7 million accounts, Pages and Groups used to target people internationally.
The companies also shared leads relating to more than 30 suspected scam centres, providing investigators with additional information to support enforcement efforts.
Private-sector partners identified more than $11 million in funds that could potentially be frozen as part of the wider initiative. The amount represents funds identified for possible freezing, rather than money confirmed to have been recovered.
The exercise was hosted by the National Crime Agency in London and brought together international law enforcement agencies and technology companies, including Meta, Google and Microsoft.
Authorities have emphasised that continued cooperation between governments, law enforcement agencies and technology firms will be essential to dismantling organised scam networks, protecting trafficking victims and bringing those responsible for the crimes to justice.
