By Daniel Bampoe
The Ghana Police Service has intensified its crackdown on transnational organised crime, arresting 28 suspects linked to alleged cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking and illegal arms trafficking in a series of intelligence-led operations conducted across the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions.
The operations, carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Tema Regional Police Command and specialised police units, also led to the rescue of 33 alleged victims of human trafficking, most of whom are Nigerians said to have been lured into Ghana under false pretences and forced to participate in online fraud schemes.
Addressing a press briefing in Accra, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), COP Lydia Donkor said the operations demonstrate the Police Service’s commitment to dismantling organised criminal networks operating within the country.
She noted that investigations remain ongoing and warned that anyone found to be involved in cybercrime, human trafficking or the illicit trade in firearms would face the full rigours of the law.
10 arrest in Mataheko-Afienya
The first operation was conducted by the Tema Regional Police Intelligence Directorate on July 3, 2026, at Mataheko-Afienya in Tema, where police arrested 10 suspects believed to be operating an internet fraud syndicate.
The suspects were identified as Collins Francis Olayi Ojo, Matthew Balogun, Jahid Bello, Abdul Rahman Nufizi, Talent Sinivie, Preye Morrison, Lawal Abdul Aziz, David Ogobbona, Gift Prince and Kingsley Honest.
Police said intelligence gathered before the raid suggested that the apartment served as the operational headquarters for cyber-enabled fraudulent activities.
Preliminary investigations identified Collins Francis Olayi Ojo as the alleged leader and coordinator of the syndicate.
According to investigators, he allegedly facilitated the transportation of nine Nigerian nationals into Ghana by road before compelling them to engage in cyber-enabled fraud.
Police classified the nine individuals as victims of human trafficking and exploitation. They have since been rescued and relocated to a secure facility where they are receiving assistance from the appropriate authorities.
A search of the apartment resulted in the recovery of 28 laptop computers and nine mobile phones, all of which have been retained for digital forensic examination.
Collins Francis Olayi Ojo has since appeared before the Accra High Court and was remanded into police custody pending further investigations.
11 at Fafa Community
In a second intelligence-led operation on July 7, 2026, officers from the Tema Regional Police Intelligence Directorate arrested 11 suspects at Fafa Community for alleged cybercrime activities.
Police recovered 14 laptop computers with accessories and 12 smartphones, which investigators believe were used in committing cyber-related offences.
The suspects, victims and all exhibits have been transferred to the Cybercrime Unit of the CID Headquarters for further investigations.
According to police, preliminary investigations established that six of the eleven persons were initially victims of human trafficking who had been deceived into travelling from Nigeria to Ghana to engage in online fraud.
The victims were provided medical screening, protection and support before being repatriated to Nigeria.
However, investigators later concluded that Godstime Terry, 34, and Wilson Makuo, 21, who were initially regarded as victims, were allegedly coordinators of the criminal network.
Police are also searching for another suspect identified only as Jerry, who is alleged to have played a key role in trafficking victims into Ghana.
The suspects have been remanded by the Circuit Court while investigations continue.
5 suspects arrested at Kwabenya
Police also uncovered another alleged human trafficking and cybercrime syndicate during an operation carried out on July 12, 2026, at Kwabenya in Accra.
The operation involved officers from the CID Cybercrime Unit, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the CID Headquarters Operations Unit.
Five Nigerian nationals were arrested.
They were identified as Chigozie Azubuike, Edwin Onyema, Kingsley Nwachukwu, Henry Ebuke and Harrison Godwin.
During a search of the premises, police recovered 52 assorted mobile phones together with wireless internet devices believed to have been used in cybercrime activities.
Police said intelligence received a day earlier indicated that several young Nigerians had been trafficked into Ghana and were being housed in a three-bedroom apartment where they were allegedly being forced to participate in online fraud.
While searching the premises, officers discovered one bedroom locked.
According to police, Chigozie Azubuike claimed the room belonged to his elder brother who had travelled.
The explanation reportedly raised suspicion, prompting officers to force the door open.
Inside, police found 22 young Nigerian nationals.
Investigators later determined that 18 of them, aged between 15 and 24 years, were victims of human trafficking.
Police alleged that the victims had been instructed by Chigozie Azubuike, whom they described as the group’s self-styled “Chairman,” to remain hidden from officers during the operation.
All 18 victims have been rescued and placed under the protection of the appropriate state agencies.
The five suspects were subsequently arraigned before Accra Circuit Court 7 on July 16, 2026, where they were remanded into police custody to assist investigations.
Illegal arms dealers arrested In Ashanti Region
In a separate operation targeting the illegal trade in firearms, the CID Headquarters Anti-Armed Robbery Unit arrested two suspects in the Ashanti Region following months of intelligence gathering.
Police identified the suspects as Christopher Kuupieni, 63, a businessman residing at Abuakwa Nana Ketewa, and Kwabena Tawiah, 56, a businessman from Asofia Kokoben.
According to police, intelligence gathered in January this year suggested that a network was illegally supplying firearms and ammunition to buyers, including suspected criminal elements.
Christopher Kuupieni was arrested on July 15, 2026, and allegedly admitted during interrogation that he obtained the weapons from Kwabena Tawiah.
Police subsequently arrested Tawiah and searched his premises.
The search led to the recovery of four pistols, including a Malik pistol, a Walther PK 380 pistol, a Smith and Wesson pistol and a Stoeger STR Series pistol.
Investigators also recovered a Taurus G2C pistol loaded with five rounds of live 9mm ammunition, three additional pistol magazines, 100 rounds of live 9mm ammunition and 20 rounds of .380 Auto PPU ammunition.
Police alleged that Kwabena Tawiah admitted trading in firearms for the past 10 years without the required licence and disclosed that he had supplied weapons to numerous clients across the country without documentation.
Both suspects remain in police custody while investigations continue to identify additional suspects and trace the source of the weapons.
The Ghana Police Service has warned that the illegal possession, sale and trafficking of firearms remain serious criminal offences and vowed to intensify operations against organised criminal networks.
