FBI reports nearly $10 million in losses after Ghana scam operation; over 130 arrested
HENRY GERCHI 
Accra, Ghana | October 9, 2026
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says an operation targeting suspected international scam networks in Ghana has uncovered nearly US$10 million in identified financial losses, with 89 victims identified and more than 130 people arrested or detained.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the figures on October 8, 2026, in a post on X, describing the operation as part of the bureau’s global Operation Blackout, which targets scam centres accused of defrauding Americans.
According to Patel, security personnel also seized more than 300 electronic devices during the operation. He said investigations were continuing.
The FBI has not disclosed the specific locations where the operation was conducted, the identities or nationalities of those detained, or whether any of them will face prosecution in Ghana or extradition to the United States. (Graphic Online)
Some detainees are trafficking victims
The FBI’s announcement indicates that not everyone arrested or detained is necessarily suspected of operating the scam centres.
Patel said the figure of more than 130 includes victims who are expected to be repatriated to their home countries. Authorities have not provided a breakdown of how many people are suspected perpetrators and how many are potential trafficking victims.
The distinction is important because people working inside scam centres may themselves have been recruited under false pretences or forced to participate in fraudulent activities.
Sam George clarifies Ghana’s role
Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has challenged the impression that the FBI independently carried out the operation.
In a statement posted on X on October 8, the minister said Ghanaian law enforcement and intelligence agencies led the operation, with primary support from the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and assistance from the FBI.
He argued that presenting the operation as an exclusively FBI-led exercise could undermine future cooperation between Ghana and its international partners.
The minister’s response highlights the importance of recognising the contributions of local security agencies in joint efforts to combat transnational cybercrime. (Graphic Online)
Part of a wider international crackdown
Operation Blackout forms part of the FBI’s broader efforts to disrupt international scam networks accused of targeting victims, particularly American citizens, through online fraud.
The operation comes amid increased international cooperation against cyber-enabled financial crime, including romance scams, investment fraud and other schemes that exploit digital platforms to deceive victims.
In a separate case, Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, was extradited to the United States in July 2026 to face charges relating to an alleged romance-fraud network that prosecutors say defrauded more than 80 elderly Americans of over US$8 million. Those allegations concern a separate case and should not be confused with the latest operation.
The FBI says its investigation into the Ghana operation remains ongoing. Further details are expected as the relevant authorities provide additional information.
