The Ghana Police Service has announced a major breakthrough in its fight against human trafficking, cyber-enabled fraud and the illegal trade in firearms, with the arrest of 28 suspects and the rescue of 33 victims in a series of intelligence-led operations conducted across the country.
Addressing a press briefing in Accra, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Lydia Donkor, said the operations were carried out by the CID Headquarters and the Tema Regional Police Command as part of the Service’s sustained efforts to dismantle organised criminal networks operating in the country.
She reaffirmed the Police Service’s commitment to protecting lives and property while ensuring that those engaged in criminal activities are brought to justice.
COP Donkor disclosed that the Tema Regional Police Command, through its Regional Police Intelligence Directorate, arrested 10 suspects during an intelligence-led operation at Mataheko, Afienya, in Tema on July 3, 2026.
The suspects were identified as Collins Francis Olayi Ojo, Matthew Balogun, Jahid Belo, Abdul Rahman Nufizi, Talent Sinivi, Pray Morrison, Lawal Abdul Aziz, David Ogogona, Gift Prince and Kingsley Honest.
According to preliminary investigations, Collins Francis Olayi Ojo is believed to be the leader of the syndicate. He allegedly coordinated the transportation of nine Nigerian nationals into Ghana by road before forcing them into cyber-enabled fraudulent activities.
Police identified the nine Nigerians as victims of human trafficking and exploitation. They have since been rescued and relocated to a secured facility where they are receiving the necessary support.
A search conducted at the suspects’ hideout resulted in the recovery of 28 laptop computers and nine mobile phones, all of which have been secured for digital forensic examination.
Collins Francis Olayi Ojo has been arraigned before the Accra High Court and remanded into police custody, while investigations continue to identify and arrest other members of the criminal network.
In a separate operation at Fafa Community, the Tema Regional Police Intelligence Directorate arrested 11 suspects linked to cybercrime activities.
The suspects, rescued victims and exhibits have been transferred to the Cyber Crime Unit of the CID Headquarters for further investigations.
Initial investigations showed that six of the eleven persons found at the location were victims of human trafficking who had been brought into Ghana from Nigeria.
However, investigators later discovered that two individuals who had initially been considered victims—Gotts Thyme Terry, 34, and Wilson Mako, 21—were in fact key coordinators of the trafficking syndicate.
Police also identified another suspect known only as Jerry as a principal figure responsible for trafficking victims into Ghana. He remains on the run, and efforts are underway to arrest him.
One suspect has already been put before the Circuit Court and remanded into police custody, while electronic devices retrieved during the operation are undergoing forensic analysis.
The CID also announced the arrest of five Nigerian nationals for alleged human trafficking and cybercrime activities at Kwabenya in Accra.
The suspects were identified as Chigozi Azubweke, 35; Edwin Onyema, 24; Kingsley Nwachuku, 29; Henry Ebuke, 32; and Harrison Godwin, 26.
Police recovered 52 assorted mobile phones and several wireless internet devices believed to have been used in cybercrime operations.
According to COP Donkor, intelligence received on July 11, 2026, indicated that several young Nigerians had been trafficked into Ghana and confined in a residential property at Kwabenya.
A police team dispatched to the location searched a three-bedroom apartment and discovered one locked room.
Although Chigozi Azubweke claimed the room belonged to his elder brother who had travelled, officers found the explanation suspicious and forced the room open.
Inside, police found 22 young Nigerian nationals.
Further investigations established that 18 of them, aged between 15 and 24 years, were victims of human trafficking who had been brought into Ghana from Nigeria.
The victims were allegedly instructed by Chigozi Azubweke to hide from police officers whenever security personnel visited the premises.
The rescued victims have since been placed in the care of the appropriate authorities for protection and rehabilitation.
The five suspects appeared before Accra Circuit Court 7 on July 16, 2026, where they were remanded into police custody pending further investigations.
COP Donkor also announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the illegal trafficking of firearms and ammunition in the Ashanti Region.
She explained that the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit of the CID Headquarters began investigations earlier this year after receiving intelligence that a network was supplying firearms to criminal elements across the country.
Following months of surveillance, officers arrested 63-year-old businessman Christopher Akupene on July 15, 2026.
During interrogation, he allegedly admitted his involvement and identified 56-year-old businessman Kwabena Teria as his principal supplier.
Subsequent investigations led to Teria’s arrest and the recovery of a cache of firearms and ammunition.
Items retrieved included a Malik pistol, a Walther PK 380 pistol with a magazine, a Smith and Wesson pistol with a magazine, a Stoga STR Series pistol with a magazine, a Toros G2C pistol loaded with five rounds of live 9mm ammunition, three additional pistol magazines, 100 rounds of live 9mm ammunition and 20 rounds of .380 Auto PPU live ammunition.
Police said Teria admitted that although he had no licence to trade in firearms, he had been selling guns and ammunition illegally for the past ten years to clients across the country without proper documentation.
Both suspects remain in police custody while investigators work to identify their accomplices and sources of supply.
COP Lydia Donkor stressed that the Ghana Police Service remains determined to dismantle organised criminal groups involved in human trafficking, cybercrime and the illegal arms trade.
She warned that the illegal possession, sale and trafficking of firearms remain serious criminal offences under the law and assured the public that the Police Service would continue to pursue offenders while strengthening efforts to protect vulnerable persons from exploitation.
By 1960news.com
