A significant joint security operation, spearheaded by the Inspector-General of Police’s Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team, in collaboration with the Surveillance Unit from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) Amasaman Sector Command, has led to the arrest of twelve (12) Nigerian nationals. These individuals are suspected of being deeply involved in organised cyber fraud and human trafficking-related activities within Ghana.

The meticulously planned operation, conducted on March 12, 2026, was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Malaika Jibril Alhassan from the Police Headquarters and Superintendent Francis Baidoo from the Amasaman Sector Command of the Ghana Immigration Service. During a search of the premises, officers successfully retrieved suspected cybercrime tools, including twenty-five (25) laptop computers and seven (7) mobile phones, believed to have been instrumental in their illicit operations.

During the execution of the operation, the suspects reportedly attempted to obstruct the enforcement officers by unleashing German Shepherd dogs against them. However, swift reinforcement from the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team and the CID Surveillance Unit ensured that the officers could secure the premises and complete the operation smoothly, overcoming the resistance.

Preliminary investigations have shed light on the sophisticated nature of the criminal activities, indicating that the suspects were engaged in a broad spectrum of offences. These include various forms of internet fraud such as online scams, identity theft, email and phishing fraud, mobile money (MoMo) fraud, cyber extortion and blackmail, as well as credit card and ATM fraud, and electronic forgery. These identified offences fall under significant legal instruments in Ghana, 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 success of this operation underscores the increasing link between cybercrime networks and transnational migration activities. It further highlights the critical importance of effective intelligence gathering and robust inter-agency collaboration between key security forces such as the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Immigration Service in dismantling such complex criminal enterprises. Meanwhile, investigations into these suspected cybercrime and human trafficking activities are ongoing, with six (6) other suspected Nigerian nationals currently at large for illegal migration-related offences, contrary to the laws of the Republic of Ghana. The Ghana Police Service has reiterated its unwavering commitment to intelligence-led operations, inter-agency coordination, and the strict application of the law to safeguard national security and maintain the integrity of Ghana’s digital and migration space.