The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has uncovered a suspected cyber fraud and human trafficking syndicate operating from Dawhenya in the Greater Accra Region, arresting 17 foreign nationals and rescuing 85 victims believed to have been trafficked into Ghana for forced labour and online fraud activities.
The operation, which was intelligence-led, was carried out at a facility located opposite the China West Mall in Dawhenya after residents reported unusual movements and suspected criminal activities at the premises.
Immigration officers stormed the location and intercepted a total of 102 West African nationals. Initial investigations revealed that 85 of them—comprising 79 men and six women—were victims of suspected human trafficking and forced labour. The remaining 17 individuals are believed to be members of the alleged cyber fraud syndicate and are also suspected to have been residing in Ghana illegally.
According to the Ghana Immigration Service, preliminary findings indicate that many of the victims were lured into Ghana with false promises of legitimate employment and better economic opportunities. Instead, they are believed to have been forced into online fraud operations under harsh and exploitative conditions.
Officers who searched the facility reported evidence of severe physical abuse and degrading living conditions, particularly among the male victims. The victims were allegedly housed in overcrowded rooms with limited access to basic necessities, raising concerns about their welfare and treatment.
The GIS says immediate steps were taken to separate the victims from the suspects to ensure their safety and facilitate investigations. The six female victims, together with the 17 suspects, are currently being held at the GIS Headquarters in Accra, where the suspects are undergoing interrogation while the victims receive the necessary care and support as investigations continue.
The 79 male victims have meanwhile been transferred to a secure holding facility, where arrangements are being made in collaboration with the relevant authorities and their respective diplomatic missions for their safe return to their home countries.
Authorities say the suspected masterminds behind the operation were not present at the time of the raid. However, investigators are pursuing leads to identify and apprehend all those believed to be responsible for orchestrating the trafficking and cyber fraud network.
The Ghana Immigration Service says investigations will also seek to determine the full extent of the syndicate’s operations, including possible links to other transnational criminal networks operating within the sub-region.
In a separate intelligence-led operation at Ashaiman, immigration officers detained 93 Nigerian women suspected of engaging in prostitution. The women are currently being held while immigration processes are completed ahead of their repatriation to Nigeria in accordance with Ghana’s immigration laws.
The Ghana Immigration Service has reaffirmed its commitment to combating irregular migration, dismantling transnational organised crime, and protecting victims of human trafficking. The Service is also urging members of the public to continue providing timely information on suspicious activities to support efforts to safeguard national security and protect vulnerable persons from exploitation.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Nana Achiaa Aboagye