Police Bust Transnational Cybercrimes, Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue 46 Victims
The Nigeria Police Force has rescued 46 victims of human trafficking and arrested seven suspects in two coordinated operations targeting a transnational human trafficking and cyber fraud network operating between Nigeria and Ghana.
The operations were disclosed in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the breakthroughs as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle international crime syndicates exploiting vulnerable individuals.
In the first operation, police rescued 31 victims trafficked from Ghana into Nigeria under the false pretense of securing them employment opportunities in Europe. The victims, lured into the country by a Ghanaian national, Samuel Dankwah Opoku—himself deceived by an alleged recruiter named George Tenkron—were coerced into fraudulent digital marketing schemes linked to the controversial QNET network.
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Further investigations revealed that Opoku had paid 30,000 Ghanaian Cedis (approximately $2,400 USD) to a Nigerian-based syndicate member, Attah Amankwaah, as part of a wider trafficking deal. Acting on credible intelligence, security operatives stormed the group’s operational base, arresting six suspects and recovering vital evidence.
In a related case, the National Central Bureau (NCB) of INTERPOL received a distress report involving four Ghanaians trafficked into Nigeria by 39-year-old Achiaa Grace Afrifa. The suspect allegedly collected 126,000 Ghanaian Cedis (roughly $10,000 USD) from her victims, promising them job placements.
Afrifa was arrested on June 18 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, following swift police intervention. During the raid, authorities freed an additional 15 victims held in her custody.
CSP Adejobi affirmed that the seven suspects arrested in both operations are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its mission to dismantle trafficking syndicates, combat cybercrime, and safeguard vulnerable populations from exploitation,” Adejobi stated.
The successful rescue operations underscore the ongoing transnational collaboration in the fight against human trafficking and online fraud.
By PRNigeria
