Ghana Immigration Service Conducts Major Raid in Accra
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has carried out a significant intelligence-led operation resulting in the arrest of 93 Nigerian nationals in Accra. The raid, which took place at the upscale DEVTRACO Estate, targeted six residential buildings believed to be connected to a sophisticated criminal network involved in internet fraud and human trafficking activities.
Details of the Operation and Arrests
According to official statements from the GIS Public Affairs Department released on March 9, 2026, the operation was coordinated by Deputy Superintendent of Immigration Newman Akuffo from the Service's National Operations Unit. During the execution of the raid, immigration officers apprehended 91 men and two women, all identified as Nigerian citizens.
Authorities indicated that the suspects are believed to have been engaged in various internet fraud schemes while also committing multiple immigration violations. The operation revealed a more disturbing aspect when investigators discovered 73 victims at the properties who were subsequently rescued from what officials described as severe abuse and torture inflicted by members of the suspected criminal organization.
Evidence Seized During the Raid
During thorough searches of the residential buildings, immigration officers confiscated substantial evidence believed to have been used in facilitating criminal activities. The seized materials included:
- Counterfeit US dollar notes
- Fake gold bars
- 82 laptop computers
- 57 mobile phones
- 17 television sets
- Various other electronic and household items
Officials stated that the recovered equipment points to a well-organized criminal network potentially operating sophisticated online scams and financial fraud schemes.
Immigration Violations and Legal Framework
Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the arrested individuals had entered Ghana through unauthorized border crossings, while others had overstayed the 90-day visa-free period permitted under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) free movement protocol. This regional agreement allows citizens of member countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, to travel within the community without visas for up to 90 days, provided they comply with immigration regulations.
The GIS referenced Ghana's Human Trafficking Act of 2005, which criminalizes recruiting, transporting, or harboring individuals through coercion, fraud, or abuse for exploitative purposes. Convictions under this legislation carry prison sentences ranging from five to twenty years, with life imprisonment possible in cases involving children or aggravating circumstances.
Additionally, officials cited the Immigration Act of 2000, which makes entering the country through illegal routes or overstaying authorized visa periods criminal offenses punishable by fines or imprisonment from three months to two years.
Ongoing Investigations and Official Statements
The rescued victims have been transported back to Nigeria, while investigations continue at the GIS National Headquarters in Ghana. Authorities are working to determine the full scope of the criminal network and identify any additional collaborators who may be involved.
The Comptroller-General of Immigration issued a stern warning to foreign nationals residing in Ghana, urging strict adherence to the country's laws and regulations. The GIS announced plans to intensify enforcement operations nationwide to dismantle immigration-related crime networks and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
This development follows similar incidents involving Nigerian nationals abroad, including a recent case in Mozambique where 42 Nigerians were arrested. The Nigerian Diaspora Commission has previously characterized such arrests as targeted and baseless, though official responses to this specific incident have not yet been disclosed.
