EOCO Nabs 219 Suspects for Human Trafficking and Cybercrime
Accra, Ghana - 18 April, 2025 - The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Ghana, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Ghana Armed Forces, has arrested 219 individuals in connection with human trafficking and cybercrime activities.
The suspects, aged between 15 and 38, include 212 males and seven females, with 11 being minors.
According to Abdul Bashiru Dapilah, Acting Executive Director of EOCO, the victims were lured to Ghana with promises of lucrative jobs but were instead forced into cybercrime operations. The operation, dubbed "Operation Rescue Shield," was conducted at an estate in Oyarifa, where the suspects were holding the victims hostage.
The head of EOCO highlighted the need for regional collaboration to combat cross-border crimes and reasserted the agency's dedication to breaking up organized crime groups. Authorities seized laptops, personal belongings, and internet equipment from the suspects.
“The operation was successful, and 219 people were arrested at Isak estates in Oyarifa. 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 at a press briefing in Accra.
Investigations are ongoing to identify the masterminds behind the trafficking, while screening is underway to separate victims from suspects and minors from adults.
According to him, EOCO plans to repatriate the victims to Nigeria 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.''
Source: Lead News Online
