Police arrest 19 in Sasaabi during $8.3m international cybercrime bust

Ghanaian authorities arrested 19 individuals in Sasaabi, a suburb of Accra, as part of a major international operation against online fraud and human trafficking. The bust, conducted during a "Joint Disruption Week," uncovered a syndicate responsible for an estimated $8.3 million in scam losses. Working alongside international partners including the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), local law enforcement also identified 117 human trafficking victims and seized 303 electronic devices used in the criminal operations.

The operation revealed a significant link between financial crime and human exploitation. Among those found at the Sasaabi centre were 117 trafficking victims, primarily Nigerian nationals, who are now awaiting repatriation to their home country. In addition to the human cost, investigators identified 89 specific victims of fraud, many of whom are based in the United Kingdom and the United States. The digital footprint of the network was so extensive that technology companies, including Meta, removed over 3.7 million fraudulent social media accounts linked to the group's activities.

The crackdown extended beyond Ghana's borders, resulting in a total of 28 arrests across both Ghana and Nigeria. Beyond the arrests and account removals, authorities have identified more than $11 million in funds that could potentially be frozen. Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority and the NCA emphasized that the success of this mission highlights the critical role of international partnerships in dismantling sophisticated criminal networks that operate across jurisdictions. Authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant against investment scams as they work to repatriate the trafficking victims.