Accra:Ghanaian authorities have arrested 19 individuals in Sasaabi, a suburb of Accra, during an international cybercrime operation that identified 89 victims of online scams, resulting in estimated losses of US$8.3 million.
According to Ghana News Agency, the operation also resulted in the seizure of 303 electronic devices and the identification of 117 suspected human trafficking victims awaiting repatriation to Nigeria. This effort was part of an international 'Joint Disruption Week' aimed at dismantling transnational criminal networks across West Africa.
The United States Department of Justice announced that the coordinated operation led to 28 arrests in Ghana and Nigeria, the removal of over 3.7 million fraudulent social media accounts, and the identification of more than US$11 million in potentially freezable funds. In Ghana, the Cyber Security Authority, the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service, and the National Security Service led the operation with support from the UK's National Crime Agency, the FBI, and Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The operation, hosted by the NCA in London, involved agencies from multiple countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Ghana, Nigeria, Australia, Canada, India, and New Zealand, along with INTERPOL and private technology companies. During the week starting October 6, investigators and industry partners exchanged intelligence to identify and disrupt scam centers, especially those targeting victims in the US and UK.
In addition to government agencies, technology companies such as Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Binance participated, removing fraudulent content and sharing intelligence that led to the identification of over 30 suspected scam centers. This operation followed earlier raids in Ghana in late September, where authorities arrested numerous individuals, identified 34 trafficking victims, and seized 129 electronic devices.
In Nigeria, authorities arrested nine people and confiscated 53 electronic devices during the enforcement period. US Department of Justice officials emphasized the importance of international cooperation in tackling online fraud, with Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva highlighting the success of these collaborative efforts.
The FBI's Kash Patel noted the operation's impact in disrupting criminal activities and rescuing trafficking victims. Nick Sharp from the NCA stressed the necessity of international partnerships in combating global fraud, which often involves cross-border operations. Investigators targeted scams including impersonation of law enforcement and cryptocurrency fraud, such as 'pig butchering.'
FBI statistics reveal a significant increase in investment scam reports, with losses from such scams rising substantially in recent years. The US Department of Justice reported that global scam syndicates are responsible for billions in annual losses, with West African scam centers sharing characteristics with those in Southeast Asia.
The FBI and its partners are committed to expanding public-private cooperation to dismantle the criminal networks behind these online scams.