A major operation involving Ghanaian security agencies and international law enforcement partners has uncovered suspected cybercrime centres in parts of the Greater Accra Region, where investigators believe organised networks were involved in online fraud, including romance scams.
The operation, known as Operation Cyber Hunt by Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority (CSA) and referred to as Operation Blackout by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), targeted suspected cybercrime activities at several locations.
The facilities reportedly included Ubuntu Haven Estate in Kpone Katamanso, Franko Estate in Ga North and other locations in Ga West. Authorities said the operation followed intelligence received on August 26, 2026, about suspected organised cybercrime activities.
According to the CSA, eight suspects were arrested during the operation, while 120 people believed to be victims of human trafficking and exploitation were rescued. Most of those rescued were reported to be Nigerian nationals.
Investigators also seized a range of electronic devices and other items believed to be relevant to the investigation. These included 136 mobile phones, 130 laptops, internet equipment, four vehicles, jewellery and 10 Nigerian passports.
The seized devices are expected to assist investigators in examining the alleged activities, identifying possible victims and determining whether the suspected networks were connected to wider international cybercrime operations.
The CSA said Ghanaian authorities led and coordinated the operation, working alongside the National Security Council, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service and the Office of the Attorney-General.
International partners included the FBI, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The operation has drawn attention to the connection between suspected online fraud and human trafficking. In some reported cases involving cybercrime networks, individuals are recruited or transported under deceptive circumstances and then pressured or forced to participate in fraudulent activities. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the people found at the locations targeted in Ghana.
However, the precise role of each person at the sites and the extent of the alleged criminal networks remain matters for investigation. Arrests do not in themselves establish guilt, and the suspects are entitled to due process.
There were also differences in the figures released by the agencies involved. While Ghana’s CSA reported eight suspects arrested and 120 people rescued, the FBI described more than 130 people as arrested or detained in its broader account of the operation. These figures refer to different reported categories and should not be treated as identical.
Authorities are expected to continue analysing the seized equipment and gathering evidence as they investigate the suspected fraud networks and possible trafficking offences.
The operation highlights the importance of cooperation between countries in addressing cybercrime, protecting people from exploitation and tracing criminal activity that can cross national borders. Further information is expected as investigations progress.
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Source: Thepressradio.com
