The Ghana Police Service has intensified its fight against organised cybercrime following the arrest of 10 people during a major intelligence-led operation at Mataheko-Afienya in the Greater Accra Region.
The operation, carried out by the Tema Regional Police Command through its Regional Police Intelligence Directorate, targeted an apartment suspected of serving as a base for cyber-enabled fraudulent activities.
Police said the raid resulted not only in the arrest of the suspects but also in the rescue of nine Nigerian nationals believed to be victims of human trafficking and exploitation.
According to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, preliminary investigations identified one of the arrested persons, Collins Francis Olayi Ojo, as the alleged coordinator of the operation.
Investigators suspect that Ojo facilitated the movement of the nine victims from Nigeria to Ghana by road. After arriving in the country, they were allegedly placed under his control and compelled to participate in online fraudulent activities.
Police have clarified that the nine rescued individuals are being treated as suspected trafficking victims rather than members of the alleged criminal group. They have reportedly been moved to a safe facility while the authorities determine the next steps regarding their protection and possible reintegration.
During a search of the apartment, officers retrieved 28 laptop computers and nine mobile phones believed to be connected to the alleged cybercrime operation. The devices have been secured for digital forensic examinations as investigators attempt to establish the scale of the suspected network and identify other possible accomplices.
The operation reportedly took place on July 3, 2026, but details were publicly announced by the CID leadership on July 21. Police said investigations into the case remain active.
Ojo has since appeared before the Accra High Court and was remanded in police custody, according to reports. The identities and legal status of the remaining suspects are expected to become clearer as the investigation progresses.
The latest raid highlights growing concerns about the connection between human trafficking and cyber-enabled fraud. Criminal networks may lure vulnerable people across national borders with promises of employment before exploiting them in organised online scams.
COP Donkor said the CID remained committed to intelligence-led policing, digital investigations and cooperation with local and international partners to fight cybercrime, trafficking and other organised offences.
The police have also appealed to residents to report suspicious activities in their communities, stressing that public cooperation remains important in uncovering hidden criminal operations.
While the allegations against the suspects have yet to be proven in court, the rescue of the nine victims represents a significant intervention in Ghana’s continuing crackdown on suspected cybercrime and human-trafficking networks.
