Amanze Chinonye
Law enforcement agencies in Ghana and Nigeria arrested 28 people and seized 356 electronic devices in a coordinated international crackdown on online fraud networks targeting victims worldwide, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday.
Join our WhatsApp Channel
The operation, conducted during a week of joint enforcement activities beginning on October 6, also led to the removal of more than 3.7 million scam-linked accounts, pages and groups, while private-sector partners identified more than $11 million in funds that could potentially be frozen, the department said.
READ ALSO :
Ghana Rescues 120 Suspected Trafficking Victims in Scam Centre Raid
In Ghana, authorities arrested 19 people in Sasaabi, a suburb of Accra, and seized 303 electronic devices. They also identified 117 people believed to be victims of human trafficking who were awaiting repatriation to Nigeria, according to the department.
In Nigeria, authorities arrested nine people and seized 53 electronic devices. Investigators also identified 89 victims of online scams who suffered estimated losses of about $8.3 million, the department said.
The operation, known as Operation Blackout, brought together the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Britain’s National Crime Agency, Nigerian and Ghanaian law enforcement agencies, INTERPOL and private-sector technology and financial companies.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the operation demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in disrupting criminal networks, identifying trafficking victims and tracing funds linked to fraud.
Private-sector partners shared intelligence on more than 30 suspected scam centres with law enforcement and took voluntary action against accounts and other online infrastructure used to target victims in the United States, Britain and elsewhere, the department said.
The schemes included cryptocurrency investment fraud, romance scams, impersonation of law enforcement officers and extortion operations involving threats of purported arrest. Some cryptocurrency investment schemes, commonly known as “pig butchering”, involve criminals building relationships with victims before persuading them to invest in fraudulent platforms.
READ MORE :
The crackdown comes amid growing concern over the scale of cyber-enabled financial crime. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded more than $7.2 billion in reported losses from investment scams involving cryptocurrency in 2025, according to the Justice Department.
The department described the initiative as the first coordinated international enforcement effort focused specifically on scam networks operating in West Africa. It builds on efforts to disrupt similar criminal operations in Southeast Asia.
The operation was hosted by Britain’s National Crime Agency in London and involved law enforcement agencies from several countries, including Australia, Canada, India and New Zealand. Investigations into the networks are continuing.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
