The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) of Ghana has disputed the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) claim of independently conceiving and executing a recent cybercrime crackdown in Ghana. According to the CSA, the operation, known as "Operation Cyber Hunt", was planned and led by Ghanaian authorities with support from local security agencies and international law enforcement partners. The operation resulted in the arrest of suspects and the rescue of individuals suspected of being trafficked and exploited for online fraud.
The CSA disclosed that the operation uncovered suspected cybercrime centres in parts of the Greater Accra Region, leading to the arrest of eight suspects and the rescue of 120 people. Intelligence received on August 26, 2026, indicated that several apartments were allegedly being used as bases for organised cybercrime, including romance scams. The CSA said items seized during the operation included 136 mobile phones, 130 laptops, internet connectivity devices, four motor vehicles, and other digital equipment.
One of the vehicles seized was reported to have been stolen from Canada, and the search team also recovered high-value items, including jewellery and 10 Nigerian passports. The CSA said authorities were working to repatriate the rescued victims, most of whom were identified as Nigerians, while investigations into the suspects and seized digital devices continued. The figures released by the CSA distinguish between eight suspects arrested and 120 people rescued, many of whom authorities suspect were victims of trafficking and exploitation.
The CSA said the operation involved Ghana's National Security Council, the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, and the Office of the Attorney-General. International partners included the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), the FBI, Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime (OCTC). The CSA acknowledged the intelligence contributions of the FBI and the NCA but emphasised the need for accurate public accounts of the operation.
The Authority called on the FBI to clarify its account of the Ghana operation and acknowledge the contributions of the Ghanaian agencies and other international partners involved in its execution. The CSA stressed that Ghana's status as a sovereign republic meant that foreign law enforcement agencies could not independently exercise police powers or conduct arrests within the country. Foreign agencies must operate through lawful cooperation and with the authorisation and involvement of the relevant Ghanaian authorities.
The CSA maintained that international partnerships remained essential to tackling transnational cybercrime but insisted that such cooperation must respect Ghana's laws, institutions, and operational authority. Ghana remained committed to dismantling cybercrime networks, protecting the public from online fraud, and strengthening intelligence-led investigations, inter-agency coordination, digital forensics, and international cooperation. The Authority added that victim protection, the preservation of evidence, due process, and the prosecution of offenders remained central to its work.
Investigations into the suspected cybercrime centres and the digital devices seized during Operation Cyber Hunt are ongoing. The CSA's response follows a post by FBI Director Kash Patel on the FBI's global anti-scam campaign, known as "Operation Blackout", which reported that more than 130 people had been arrested or detained in Ghana, with nearly US$10 million in identified losses and more than 300 electronic devices seized.
Key points
- The Cyber Security Authority of Ghana led the operation, with support from local security agencies and international law enforcement partners.
- The operation resulted in the arrest of eight suspects and the rescue of 120 people suspected of being trafficked and exploited for online fraud.
- The CSA emphasised the need for accurate public accounts of the operation and respect for Ghana's sovereignty in law enforcement.
