LONDON – The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has led an international crackdown on suspected fraud networks operating across West Africa, resulting in nearly 30 arrests, the seizure of hundreds of electronic devices and the removal of 3.7 million online accounts.

The operation, held from October 6 to 9 at the NCA’s headquarters in London, brought together more than 100 representatives from 15 law enforcement agencies and technology companies to disrupt criminal networks targeting victims in the UK and beyond.

The coordinated action focused on suspected fraudsters operating primarily in Ghana and Nigeria, who allegedly used social media platforms and online infrastructure to carry out investment scams and impersonation fraud.

According to the NCA, 19 people were arrested in Sasaabi, in Ghana’s Greater Accra area, during the operation, while 303 electronic devices were seized. Authorities also identified 117 suspected victims of human trafficking who are awaiting return to Nigeria.

In Nigeria’s Delta State, nine people were arrested, with officers seizing six laptops, 35 mobile phones and 12 routers.

The operation involved international partners, including the FBI, Nigeria Police Force, Ghana Cyber Security Authority and technology companies such as Meta, Microsoft and Google. It marked the fourth initiative of its kind and the first hosted by the NCA.

The agency worked with the UK’s Report Fraud service and private-sector partners to identify accounts, suspected scam centres and other infrastructure allegedly used to facilitate fraud.

Meta said it removed more than 3.7 million accounts, Pages and Groups linked to scams targeting people in the UK, the United States and elsewhere. The company also shared intelligence on more than 30 suspected scam centres, helping authorities pursue suspects and identify trafficking victims.

Further enforcement measures resulted in the disabling of more than 1,110 Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to data supplied by Report Fraud, alongside hundreds of additional Facebook and advertising accounts. More than 380 suspected scam-related domains were also disabled.

Private-sector partners identified approximately US$11 million in funds that could potentially be frozen.

NCA Deputy Director of Fraud Nick Sharp said the operation demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in tackling fraud, which increasingly crosses national borders and exploits online platforms.

He said the agency would continue working with international law enforcement and technology companies to target criminals operating overseas and dismantle the infrastructure supporting their activities.

The crackdown followed earlier raids on suspected scam centres in Ghana in late September. That operation also resulted in multiple arrests, the seizure of 85 phones and 44 laptops, and the identification of people suspected of being trafficked and coerced into criminal activity.

The NCA said intelligence sharing between law enforcement agencies and private companies was critical to identifying suspects, disrupting online fraud and protecting victims.

UK Minister for Fraud Lord Hanson said criminal gangs operating overseas were responsible for many scams targeting the British public. He added that the government’s planned Online Crime Centre would build on such operations to dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.

Authorities urged the public to remain alert to investment fraud, particularly online advertisements promising guaranteed returns, celebrity-backed investment opportunities, pressure to invest quickly and requests for upfront fees before money can be withdrawn.

People in the UK who believe they have been targeted by fraud can report it through the Report Fraud service at https://www.reportfraud.police.uk.

Source — NCA