Ghana: 219 rescued from major human trafficking and cybercrime ring
In Ghana, a large-scale human trafficking and cybercrime network was dismantled by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Oyarifa.
SUMMARY
During a major operation, EOCO agents rescued 219 individuals—mostly young people from West Africa—who had been trapped by a criminal network specializing in human trafficking and online scams.
These victims were being held against their will in inhumane conditions. Lured to Ghana with false promises of well-paid jobs and better living conditions, they were met with a starkly different reality.
A harsh contrast to their expectations
Upon arrival, the victims quickly found themselves in exploitative situations. Cramped into squalid housing, they were forced to work long hours for criminal organizations, particularly in cyberfraud operations.
EOCO’s acting executive director, Abdul Bashiru, confirmed the scale of the operation: “We arrested 219 individuals at Kunzak Estates in Oyarifa,” noting that the victims had been “lured into the country under the pretext of employment opportunities.”
“We were working for a scamming organization. I had no choice because we were not allowed to leave. We were locked in our rooms. I received only one meal a day. I’ve been living like this in Ghana for a year, praying for rescue,” said one young Nigerian woman.
The raid also led to the seizure of a significant quantity of electronic equipment—laptops, internet routers, food supplies, and various tools used for online fraud.
Arrangements are now underway to repatriate the victims, particularly those from Nigeria. Meanwhile, EOCO continues its investigations in other areas, aiming to completely dismantle the transnational trafficking and cybercrime network.
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