Ghanaian police have uncovered a major human trafficking and cybercrime operation, rescuing 57 Nigerians who were allegedly lured into the country under false job offers and forced into online scams.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) said in a statement that officers raided a residence in a suburb of Accra on Wednesday, where the victims, aged between 18 and 26, were confined and coerced into running online romance fraud schemes.
During the operation, police seized 77 laptops, 38 mobile phones, two vehicles, three television sets, and other internet-enabled gadgets believed to have been used in the illicit activities.
According to investigators, the victims were promised high-paying jobs and better opportunities in Ghana but were instead exploited by a network that ran fake romance accounts and extortion plots.
“Upon arrival, the victims, aged between 18 and 26 years, were coerced into engaging in online romance scams and other heinous activities,” the police statement said.
Authorities confirmed that all rescued individuals are now receiving medical and psychological support, though repatriation arrangements are yet to be disclosed.
Human trafficking and cyber fraud remain persistent crimes in Ghana despite repeated enforcement efforts. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection reported 79 prosecutions and 54 convictions between 2023 and 2024 under the country’s anti-trafficking laws.
Last month, Interpol announced a coordinated cybercrime sweep across 14 African nations that resulted in 260 arrests. The operation exposed schemes that defrauded more than 1,400 victims of nearly $2.8 million.
Ghanaian authorities were noted for their active role in that crackdown, arresting 68 suspects linked to online romance and sextortion scams. The suspects were accused of creating fake profiles to extort victims through fabricated shipping fees and explicit video blackmail.
