A coordinated operation by the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Immigration Service has led to the arrest of twelve Nigerian nationals suspected of involvement in organised cyber fraud and human trafficking activities.
The joint operation, carried out in March, brought together the IGP’s Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team, the Surveillance Unit from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, and officers from the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS). It was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Malaika Jibril Alhassan and Superintendent Francis Baidoo of the Amasaman Sector Command.
Items Recovered
During searches of the suspects’ premises, authorities seized suspected cybercrime tools, including 25 laptops and seven mobile phones. The suspects reportedly tried to resist arrest by releasing German Shepherd dogs at officers, but reinforcements from the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team and the CID Surveillance Unit ensured the operation was successful.
Criminal Activities Identified
Preliminary investigations suggest the suspects were involved in a range of offences, including internet scams, identity theft, email and phishing fraud, mobile money (MoMo) fraud, cyber extortion, blackmail, credit card and ATM fraud, and electronic forgery.
These alleged offences fall under multiple legal frameworks, including the Ghana Immigration Service Regulations (L.I. 2245), the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772), the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843).
The operation highlights the growing link between cybercrime networks and transnational migration, underscoring the importance of intelligence-led policing and inter-agency collaboration.
Six other suspected Nigerian nationals remain at large in connection with illegal migration-related activities.
The Ghana Police Service reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-driven operations, inter-agency coordination, and the strict enforcement of laws to protect national security and maintain the integrity of Ghana’s digital and migration environment.