The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has repatriated 32 West African nationals, comprising 24 Nigerians and 8 Togolese, for their alleged involvement in cybercrime activities, particularly romance scams. The suspects were arrested in two coordinated operations conducted by the GIS, Ghana Police Service, and National Security in the Volta Region.
According to the GIS, the individuals were lured to Ghana with false job offers, only to be coerced into cybercrime activities by kingpins. Items seized from the suspects include 33 mobile phones, three power banks, and other gadgets.
The GIS has cautioned the public, especially the youth, to be wary of cybercrime recruitment and human trafficking schemes. The service urged citizens to report suspicious activities, particularly houses with large numbers of foreign occupants, to the nearest Immigration Office ¹.
This development comes amid concerns over the growing presence of foreign nationals involved in illicit activities in Ghana. The GIS emphasized that harbouring illegal immigrants is an offense under Section 52 (1)(b) of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), and advised landlords and property owners to conduct proper checks before renting to foreign nationals.