The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says a crackdown on a suspected scam centre operation in Ghana has resulted in more than 130 people being arrested or detained, with nearly US$10 million in identified losses.
The operation has so far identified 89 victims and led to the seizure of more than 300 electronic devices, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
In a post on X, Patel said the exercise was part of the FBI’s international campaign against scam networks targeting victims, particularly American citizens.
“Another takedown this week out of Ghana: Nearly $10 million in identified losses so far, 89 victims identified, 130+ individuals arrested or detained (including victims who will be repatriated to home country), 300+ devices seized,” he said.
Patel stressed that the operation was aimed at dismantling scam compounds that cause significant financial and personal harm.
“These scam compounds target American citizens and destroy lives,” he stated.
He added that the FBI would continue pursuing similar networks across different parts of the world.
“This FBI is crushing them in every corner of the world. More to come,” Patel said.
The Ghana operation forms part of the FBI’s wider Operation Blackout, which targets international scam networks and the facilities used to carry out online fraud.
Some of the people detained during the operation are reportedly victims themselves and are expected to be repatriated to their home countries. The investigation is continuing, with authorities working to establish the full scale of the alleged operation and the roles of those involved.
FBI outlines wider impact of Operation Blackout
Patel said the broader campaign had recorded significant results, including the seizure of about US$17 billion, arrests of hundreds of alleged scammers and the release of thousands of trafficked workers.
He also said the FBI had warned more than 10,000 Americans about suspected scams before they lost money.
According to Patel, the agency’s interventions have helped prevent an estimated US$670 million in potential losses.
The latest operation in Ghana adds to the FBI’s efforts to disrupt cross-border fraud networks and identify people who may have been exploited within the compounds where the scams are allegedly carried out.
While the figures announced by the FBI indicate the scale of the operation so far, investigations remain ongoing.
