Ghanaian Authorities Detain 93 Nigerian Nationals for Online Scams and Breaches of Immigration Laws

A significant operation undertaken by the Ghana Immigration Service has resulted in the apprehension of 93 Nigerian nationals, accused of participating in internet fraud and contravening the country's immigration laws, marking the latest effort to dismantle cybercrime networks in the West African nation.

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The arrests were made possible by an intelligence-driven raid on a suspected internet fraud ring at Devtraco Estate in Accra, as announced by GIS spokesperson Maud Anima Quainoo in a statement on Monday.

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The group of suspects comprises 91 males and two females, highlighting the predominantly male involvement in the alleged cybercrime activities.

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A notable outcome of the operation was the rescue of 73 victims who had suffered severe abuse and torture at the hands of the suspects, with the rescued individuals subsequently repatriated to Nigeria, as confirmed by the statement.

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Items seized from the premises reveal a picture of a complex and sophisticated criminal operation, with authorities confiscating 82 laptops, 57 mobile phones, 17 television sets, counterfeit US dollar notes, and fake gold bars, in addition to various household appliances believed to have supported the fraudulent activities.

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Preliminary investigations suggest that some of the suspects entered Ghana via unauthorized border crossings, while others allegedly exceeded the 90-day visa-free period available to citizens of Economic Community of West African States member countries.

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The Ghana Immigration Service is continuing its investigations at its headquarters to determine the full extent of the criminal network and has urged all foreign nationals in Ghana to adhere to the country's immigration and criminal laws.

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Monday's arrests form part of a concerning pattern of similar operations targeting Nigerian nationals in Ghana, following the arrest of 53 Nigerians allegedly involved in cybercrime and the rescue of 44 suspected victims of forced labour by the Ghana Police Service in January.

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In separate operations last December, authorities arrested approximately 78 Nigerians linked to cybercrime activities, raising questions about the scale of cross-border criminal networks exploiting Ghana as a base of operations.

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The recurring nature of such operations has sparked concerns about the adequacy of existing border management frameworks within the ECOWAS region, highlighting the need for enhanced cooperation to combat cybercrime and other transnational crimes.