No fewer than 93 Nigerians have been arrested by the Ghana Immigration Service following a major raid that uncovered a suspected internet fraud and human trafficking syndicate in Accra.
The arrests were carried out during an intelligence-led operation at the upscale Devtraco Estate, where immigration officers stormed six residential buildings believed to be connected to the alleged criminal network.
In a statement issued by the agency’s Public Affairs Department on March 9, the operation was said to have been coordinated by Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, Newman Akuffo, who is attached to the Service’s National Operations Unit.
Officials said the raid led to the arrest of 91 men and two women, all Nigerians, who are suspected to have been involved in online fraud and other immigration-related offences.
During the operation, authorities also rescued 73 victims from the premises. Investigators disclosed that preliminary findings indicated that some of the victims may have been subjected to severe abuse and torture by members of the suspected syndicate.
The immigration officers reportedly recovered several items believed to have been used in carrying out the alleged crimes, including counterfeit US dollar notes, fake gold bars, 82 laptops, 57 mobile phones and 17 television sets, among other electronic devices.
Further investigations revealed that some of the suspects allegedly entered Ghana through unauthorised border routes, while others were said to have overstayed the 90-day visa-free stay permitted under the Economic Community of West African States free movement protocol.
Authorities said the suspects are currently in custody while investigators at the GIS National Headquarters continue to probe the case and determine whether other collaborators are involved.
