In a statement issued on Saturday, Ayanlade Olusola, the police spokesperson in Ondo, said operatives also arrested three suspects linked to a transnational trafficking syndicate that lured unsuspecting individuals from neighbouring West African countries to Nigeria.

Olusola said the victims were lured with false promises of lucrative job opportunities and visa arrangements to Canada and other European nations.

He identified the suspects as Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex, and Kojo Felix, adding that operatives of the tactical intelligence response squad (TIRS) busted the syndicate following a petition from the Interpol liaison office at force headquarters in Abuja.

“One of the victims, David Angerinya, was rescued during the operation, and preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had deceived many others with similar promises,” the statement reads.

“The 40 rescued Ghanaian nationals were found without valid travel documents or with expired ones.

“The operation followed a formal petition forwarded through the Interpol Liaison Office, Force Headquarters Abuja, requesting urgent police intervention over a case of transnational human trafficking involving a Ghanaian citizen allegedly lured to Nigeria in 2024 with the promise of employment by an unidentified associate.

“Acting swiftly on the report, detectives from the Tactical Intelligence Response Squad, led by DSP Lekan Alabi, commenced a targeted investigation and subsequently apprehended three principal suspects.

“All arrested suspects are currently in police custody and are cooperating with ongoing investigations.

“Furthermore, efforts are ongoing to apprehend the owners and caretakers of the buildings where the victims were harboured, as they may have had knowledge of or directly facilitated the illegal activities of the syndicate.”