The police have rescued 46 victims of human trafficking and arrested seven suspects linked to a sophisticated transnational crime network operating between Nigeria and Ghana, in two major operations.
The details of these operations was revealed in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the NPF, Muyiwa Adejobi.
The operation began with the rescue of 31 victims trafficked from Ghana to Nigeria under false promises of employment in Europe.
Deceived by a Ghanaian national, Samuel Dankwah Opoku, who was himself misled by a recruiter named George Tenkron, the victims were coerced into fraudulent internet marketing schemes tied to the QNET network.
Investigations revealed that Opoku paid 30,000 Ghanaian Cedis (approximately $2,400 USD) to Attah Amankwaah, a key figure in the syndicate based in Nigeria. Acting on intelligence, police raided the syndicate’s operational base, apprehending six suspects and recovering incriminating evidence.
In a related incident, INTERPOL NCB received a distress call regarding four Ghanaian nationals trafficked into Nigeria by 39-year-old Achiaa Grace Afrifa on on June 17.
The suspect allegedly defrauded her victims of 126,000 Ghanaian Cedis (around $10,000 USD) with promises of job opportunities. Swift police action led to her arrest on June 18 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where an additional 15 victims were liberated from her custody.
The spokesperson added that investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be attained in court once investigations have been completed.
“The seven suspects arrested in both operations are currently in police custody and will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantling trafficking syndicates, combating cybercrime, and protecting vulnerable populations from exploitation,” Adejobi assured.
