By Samuel Olusegun Precious
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have announced the arrest of 28 scammers in Nigeria and Ghana in a major crackdown on international scam networks preying on Americans under Operation Blackout.
The joint enforcement operation was carried out during a week-long international exercise that began on October 6, 2026.
According to a statement released by the DOJ on Tuesday, October 13, the operation was a coordinated effort involving the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, UK National Crime Agency, Ghanaian and Nigerian law enforcement agencies, INTERPOL and private-sector technology and financial firms.
Breakdown Of OperationIn Ghana, authorities raided a suspected scam compound at Sasaabi, a suburb of Accra, arresting 19 suspects and seizing 303 electronic devices. 117 individuals believed to be victims of human trafficking were also rescued and are awaiting repatriation to Nigeria.
In Nigeria, operatives arrested nine suspects and seized 53 devices. Investigators identified 89 victims of online scams who suffered estimated losses of about $8.3 million.Devices, Accounts SeizedOverall, the operation led to the seizure of over 350 electronic devices, identification of over $11 million in potentially freezable funds, and the removal of more than 3.7 million scam-linked social media accounts, pages and groups.
FBI Director Kash Patel said: “Thanks to a brilliant partnership with the Department of Justice, across multiple African countries, we arrested 28 alleged criminal actors, seized over 350 devices, identified at least $11 million in potentially freezable funds, freed over 100 trafficked workers, and identified over 100 potential scam victims here at home.”
The FBI said Operation Blackout is its global campaign to identify and dismantle foreign scam compounds through overseas raids, asset seizures and disruption of online infrastructure, especially as criminal groups expand from Southeast Asia into West Africa.The schemes targeted include cryptocurrency investment fraud (pig-butchering), law-enforcement impersonation, sextortion and other transnational online frauds.
