CID cracks down on human trafficking, cybercrime and illegal arms trade; 33 victims rescued

The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, has announced a series of intelligence-led operations that have led to the arrest of 28 suspects linked to human trafficking, cyber-enabled fraud and illicit arms trafficking, while rescuing 33 victims.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing, COP Donkor said the successful operations, undertaken by the CID Headquarters and the Tema Regional Police Command, demonstrate the Police Service's commitment to protecting lives and property, dismantling organised criminal networks and upholding the rule of law.

According to her, the first operation was carried out on July 3, 2026, at Mataheko-Afienya in the Greater Accra Region, where the Tema Regional Police Intelligence Directorate arrested ten suspects operating from an apartment allegedly used as a cybercrime hub.

She disclosed that investigations identified Collins Francis Olayi Ojo as the leader of the syndicate, accusing him of trafficking nine Nigerian nationals into Ghana and forcing them to engage in cyber-enabled fraudulent activities.

The victims were rescued and placed in a safe location, while a search at the premises resulted in the retrieval of 28 laptop computers and nine mobile phones for forensic examination.

Collins Francis Olayi Ojo has since been remanded by the Accra High Court as investigations continue.

COP Donkor further revealed that another intelligence-led operation at Fafa Community on July 7, 2026, led to the arrest of 11 suspects involved in cybercrime.

Police recovered 14 laptop computers with accessories and 12 smartphones, believed to have been used in criminal activities.

She explained that preliminary investigations initially identified six of the suspects as victims of human trafficking who had been lured from Nigeria under false promises and exploited for cyber fraud.

However, subsequent investigations uncovered that Godstime Terry and Wilson Makuo, who had initially posed as victims, were actually coordinators of the syndicate.

A third suspect, identified only as Jerry, remains on the run. The rescued victims received medical care, protection and support before being repatriated to Nigeria.

The CID Director-General also announced the arrest of five Nigerian nationals during a joint operation by the CID Cybercrime Unit, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the CID Headquarters Operations Unit at Kwabenya on July 12, 2026.

The suspects—Chigozie Azubuike, Edwin Onyema, Kingsley Nwachukwu, Henry Ebuke and Harrison Godwin—were arrested after intelligence indicated they were holding trafficked young Nigerians in a residential apartment and compelling them to engage in cybercrime.

According to COP Donkor, officers forced entry into a locked room after becoming suspicious of explanations given by the suspects and discovered 22 young Nigerian nationals, of whom 18, aged between 15 and 24 years, were confirmed to be victims of human trafficking.

She stated that the victims had been instructed by the alleged ringleader, Chigozie Azubuike, to hide from the Police.

The victims have since been rescued and placed under the care of the appropriate authorities, while the suspects have been remanded by the Accra Circuit Court to assist investigations.

Police also retrieved 52 assorted mobile phones and several wireless internet devices for forensic examination.

On the issue of illegal firearms, COP Donkor disclosed that the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit of the CID Headquarters arrested Christopher Kuupieni, 63, and Kwabena Tawiah, 56, for allegedly engaging in the unlawful trade of arms and ammunition in the Ashanti Region.

She explained that the arrests followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance after Police received information that weapons were being supplied to criminal elements across the country.

A search conducted on Kwabena Tawiah led to the recovery of several firearms, including Malik, Walther PK 380, Smith & Wesson, Stoeger STR Series and Taurus G2C pistols, together with multiple magazines, 105 rounds of live 9mm ammunition and 20 rounds of .380 Auto PPU ammunition.

COP Donkor disclosed that Kwabena Tawiah admitted to engaging in the illegal arms trade for the past ten years without a licence and confessed to supplying weapons to numerous clients nationwide.

She assured the public that investigations are ongoing to arrest other accomplices and dismantle the criminal networks connected to the suspects.

COP Lydia Yaako Donkor reiterated that the Ghana Police Service remains resolute in combating organised crime and warned that anyone involved in human trafficking, cybercrime or the illegal possession and trafficking of firearms would face the full rigours of the law.

She expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, for his leadership and commended officers involved in the operations for their professionalism.

She also thanked members of the public for providing credible intelligence and urged citizens to continue reporting suspicious activities to the Police through the nearest station or the emergency lines 191 and 18555.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith and Priscilla Dodoo