The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has busted a sophisticated cybercrime and human trafficking operation in Accra, arresting 93 foreign nationals and rescuing 73 victims who had been subjected to abuse and torture.
The raid, conducted at six houses in the DEVTRACO Estate, targeted a network allegedly involved in internet fraud and unlawful detention of individuals. Among those arrested, 91 are men and two are women, all facing charges relating to cybercrime and immigration violations.
Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) Newman Akuffo, who led the operation under GIS’s National Operations unit, said officers recovered a substantial amount of equipment, including 82 laptops, 57 mobile phones, 17 televisions, counterfeit US dollars, and fake gold bars believed to have been used in fraudulent activities.
“The operation demonstrates our commitment to rooting out criminal networks exploiting our communities,” DSI Akuffo said.
Preliminary investigations indicate that several suspects entered Ghana through unapproved border points, while others overstayed their 90-day visa-free entry. The 73 victims, all of whom were repatriated to Nigeria, reportedly endured severe torture and exploitation.
GIS Comptroller General issued a warning to foreign nationals, citing the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), which criminalizes the recruitment, transportation, or harboring of individuals for exploitation through force, fraud, or abuse. Penalties under the Act range from five to 20 years imprisonment, with life sentences possible in cases involving children or aggravating factors. Violations of Ghana’s Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), such as illegal entry or overstaying, also carry fines and jail terms between three months and two years.
The DEVTRACO Estate operation marks one of the largest anti-fraud and human trafficking interventions in recent years, reflecting growing efforts by Ghanaian authorities to clamp down on cybercrime networks operating within residential areas.
