The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has arrested 219 individuals in connection with human trafficking and cybercrime activities in Ghana.
The suspects were arrested during an intelligence-led operation dubbed “Operation Rescue Shield” at Isak estates in Oyarifa.
According to EOCO’s Acting Executive Director, Abdul Bashiru Dapilah, the victims were lured to Ghana with promises of lucrative jobs but were instead held hostage and forced into cybercrime operations.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, April 17, Dapilah revealed that the victims were trafficked into the country and confined at the Oyarifa estate.
“The victims were lured into the country by the suspects ostensibly to give them lucrative jobs in Ghana. Unfortunately, when they came to Ghana, since there were no lucrative jobs existing then, they took them hostage and confined them at the Oyarifa estate and were forced to go into cybercrimes and cybercrime-related activities,” he explained.
The operation, conducted in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Ghana Armed Forces, resulted in the retrieval of laptops, personal effects, and internet facilities.
Dapilah emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in combating transnational crimes and reaffirmed EOCO’s commitment to dismantling these criminal networks. The arrested individuals include 212 males and 7 females, with 11 minors aged between 15 and 38.
EOCO is currently screening the arrested individuals to separate victims from suspects and juveniles from adults. Dapilah stated that the victims are expected to be sent back to Nigeria to connect with their families once the screening process is completed.
“We are thinking that come what may, by tomorrow [April 18], we should be able to complete the screening, then barring any unforeseen circumstances, we should be able to make arrangements for the victims to be sent back to Nigeria to connect with their families,” he said.