The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) says it has grabbed forty-nine foreigners engaged in human trafficking and cybercrime activities in Accra.
According to EOCO, the arrest was made in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service.
In a communique signed by Head, Public Affairs, Faustina Lartey, she said "The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service have arrested forty-nine (49) Nigerian nationals in Accra on Tuesday, 2nd May, 2023"
"The suspects were made up of forty-seven (47) males and two (2) females with their ages ranging from 18 – 34 years"
She noted that in all, seventy (70) laptop computers, two (2) saloon cars, fifty-one (51) mobile phones, nine (9) internet modems and other gadgets were recovered from their hideout during the operation.
Following the arrest and subsequent screening of the suspects, it came to light that forty-five (45) of the individuals were victims of human trafficking whilst four (4) were the traffickers.
Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that the rescued victims have been sent back to Nigeria to reunite with their families with support from the Nigerian High Commission.
She also mentioned that the four (4) traffickers namely; Godstine Omoruyi, Junior Nosa Omoruyi, Marvelous Omoruyi and Evbuomwan Idowu have been arraigned before the court.
Their arrest followed intelligence obtained by the Office to the effect that some young Nigerians had been trafficked into the country.
The said victims were lured into the country with the promise of securing them jobs but were subsequently forced to engage in cyber-crime activities upon their arrival in the country.
The traffickers also resorted to various forms of physical torture and abuse to coerce their victims into subjection.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith