The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has arrested 93 Nigerian nationals over alleged internet fraud and immigration offences following a major intelligence-led operation in Accra, in a case authorities say highlights growing concerns about transnational cybercrime and human exploitation networks.
In a press release issued on March 9, the GIS said the operation targeted six houses within the Devtraco Estate area, where officers uncovered what it described as an organised network engaged in online fraud and related activities.
The arrests involved 91 men and two women, while immigration officials also rescued 73 victims who authorities say had endured “severe torture and abuse” at the hands of the suspects. The operation was led by Deputy Superintendent of Immigration Newman Akuffo from the service’s national operations unit.
Investigators say the suspects were allegedly involved in internet fraud schemes and other immigration-related breaches. The GIS reported that items seized during the operation included counterfeit US dollars, fake gold bars, 82 laptops, 57 mobile phones and 17 television sets, equipment believed to have supported the group’s online activities.
Authorities indicated that some of the suspects entered Ghana through “unapproved routes,” while others allegedly remained in the country after “overstaying their 90-day visa-free entry,” raising further concerns about compliance with immigration regulations.
Officials said the suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue at the GIS national headquarters. The 73 individuals rescued during the operation have since been repatriated to Nigeria.
The Service also used the development to urge foreign nationals residing in Ghana to comply fully with national laws, stressing the importance of respecting the country’s immigration and anti-trafficking regulations.
According to the service, the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) criminalises the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of persons through “force, fraud or abuse” for purposes of exploitation. Convictions under the law can result in prison terms ranging from five to twenty years, with harsher penalties including life imprisonment in cases involving child victims or other aggravating circumstances.
The GIS also noted that under the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), entering Ghana through unauthorised routes or remaining in the country beyond permitted periods constitutes a criminal offence. Violations may attract summary convictions, fines and prison sentences ranging from three months to two years.
Immigration authorities say the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen border control enforcement and disrupt criminal networks operating within Ghana’s digital and migration ecosystems.
