Ghana Immigration Arrests 93 Nigerian Nationals, Rescues 73 Abuse Victims In Major Anti-Fraud Operation

The Ghana Immigration Service has arrested 93 Nigerian nationals and rescued 73 individuals who were victims of torture and abuse during a major intelligence-led anti-fraud operation at a residential estate in Accra.

The operation, announced in a press release dated 9th March 2026, saw immigration officers raid six houses within the DEVTRACO Estate, uncovering what authorities describe as a sophisticated internet fraud network that had been holding victims against their will.

Of the 93 arrested, 91 are male, and 2 are female. All face charges related to alleged involvement in internet fraud and immigration offence.

The operation was led by Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) Newman Akuffo of the Ghana Immigration Service's National Operations unit. 

Officers recovered a significant haul of equipment believed to have been used to run the fraud scheme, including 82 laptops, 57 mobile phones, 17 television sets, counterfeit US dollars, and fake gold bars.

The 73 rescued victims, who investigators say had endured severe torture and abuse at the hands of the suspects, have since been repatriated to Nigeria.

Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the suspects entered Ghana through unapproved border routes, while others overstayed their 90-day visa-free entry. 

The GIS says further investigations are continuing at its National Headquarters in Accra.

The Comptroller General of Immigration used the occasion to issue a stern warning to foreign nationals in Ghana.

The Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), he noted, prohibits recruiting, transporting, or harbouring individuals through force, fraud, or abuse for exploitation, with penalties ranging from 5 to 20 years imprisonment, and life sentences where child victims or aggravating factors are involved.

Under the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), entering Ghana via unapproved routes or overstaying a visa is also a criminal offence, carrying penalties of fines and between 3 months and 2 years imprisonment upon conviction.

The operation is one of the more significant anti-fraud and human trafficking busts in recent memory, and comes as Ghanaian authorities face growing pressure to clamp down on cyber fraud networks operating from within residential communities.