Ghanaian authorities have arrested 93 Nigerians over alleged cybercrime and human trafficking activities, while rescuing 73 others who were reportedly subjected to abuse and unlawful detention.
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) confirmed that among those arrested were 91 men and two women facing charges related to cybercrime and immigration violations. The 73 rescued victims have since been repatriated to Nigeria.
The arrests followed a months-long investigation that involved surveillance, intelligence gathering, and monitoring of suspicious online activities linked to the suspects.
Officers identified the network through patterns of internet fraud, illegal recruitment, and reports of missing persons lodged with both Ghanaian and Nigerian authorities.
The coordinated operation targeted six houses in the DEVTRACO Estate. Authorities gained entry using a combination of legal search warrants and tactical breach methods, allowing officers to safely penetrate the premises without endangering the victims.
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During the raids, officers recovered 82 laptops, 57 mobile phones, 17 televisions, counterfeit US dollars, and fake gold bars believed to have been used in fraudulent schemes.
Deputy Superintendent of Immigration Newman Akuffo, who led the raids, said: “The operation demonstrates our commitment to rooting out criminal networks exploiting our communities.”
Investigations revealed that several suspects entered Ghana through unauthorized border points, while others had overstayed their visa-free entry.
The Comptroller-General of GIS warned that violators face prosecution under Ghana’s Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), which carries jail terms of five to 20 years, with life imprisonment for cases involving children or aggravating circumstances.
Illegal entry or overstaying may also result in fines or prison terms of three months to two years.
This operation is considered one of the largest anti-fraud and anti-human trafficking interventions in recent years in Ghana, reflecting intensified efforts to dismantle cybercrime networks operating in residential areas.
The crackdown comes amid heightened scrutiny of Nigerians abroad. Earlier this week, 42 Nigerians were reportedly detained in Mozambique under circumstances described by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission as potentially xenophobic.
NIDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the detentions in Mozambique as disturbing, particularly since no formal offences had been reported against the Nigerians affected.
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