The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered and dismantled a cross-border human trafficking and cyber fraud syndicate, rescuing 46 Ghanaian nationals and arresting seven key suspects following a coordinated international operation.
In a statement released Thursday, Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the rescue missions were part of two major crackdowns spearheaded by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, with support from INTERPOL NCB Accra.
One of the operations led to the rescue of 31 Ghanaians, most of whom had been lured into Nigeria with false promises of employment opportunities in Europe, only to be exploited in online fraud schemes allegedly linked to the QNET network.
“These victims were deceived, trafficked, and then forced into fraudulent internet marketing activities,” Adejobi said, noting that the QNET-linked fraud has been under international scrutiny for similar exploitative tactics across Africa and Asia.
According to police investigations, a Ghanaian national, Samuel Dankwah Opoku, was one of many who fell prey to the elaborate scheme.
Lured by George Tenkron with the promise of a job in Spain, Opoku paid GHC 30,000 to Attah Amankwaah, a known QNET agent based in Nigeria, only to be trapped in the scam operation upon arrival.
Acting on intelligence, police raided the syndicate’s operational base, arrested six suspects including Amankwaah and recovered incriminating digital materials.
Statements from both suspects and victims point to a wider, organized trafficking and cyber fraud network that authorities believe spans several West African countries.
In a separate operation, police responded to a distress alert on June 17, leading to the arrest of Achiaa Grace Afrifa, a 39-year-old woman accused of trafficking 15 additional victims. Afrifa allegedly collected GHC 126,000 from her victims under the pretext of securing overseas employment.
She was apprehended the next day at No. 1 Ikot Ebido Street in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and her victims were immediately rescued from the location.
All seven suspects are currently in custody and will face charges once investigations are concluded.
The rescued victims have been handed over to the Ghana High Commission in Abuja for safe repatriation and reintegration in accordance with international protocols.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, lauded the swift action and international cooperation that led to the success of the operations.
“This is a testament to what inter-agency and cross-border intelligence sharing can achieve,” the IGP said. “We remain committed to dismantling human trafficking networks, combating cybercrime, and strengthening global partnerships in the fight against organized crime.”
This crackdown comes amid growing concerns across West Africa about human trafficking networks exploiting economic desperation and youth unemployment, often under the guise of online job offers and marketing opportunities.
