Ghana, not FBI, led Operation Blackout - CSA to FBI on cybercrime bust

• CSA says Ghana led Operation Blackout with international support.

• Eight suspects were arrested and 120 people rescued.

• CSA wants the FBI to acknowledge Ghana’s role.

In a press release issued on October 8, 2026, the CSA rejected any portrayal of the operation as independently conceived, commanded or executed by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The Authority said the operation was led and coordinated by the CSA, with support from Ghana’s National Security Council, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service and several international partners.

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These included the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), the FBI, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime, the Ghana Immigration Service and the Office of the Attorney-General.

The CSA stressed that the operation was conducted under Ghanaian authority and within the country’s legal and institutional frameworks.

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“Ghanaian authorities planned, coordinated and executed the operation within Ghana's legal and institutional frameworks, and it thus cannot be said to be conceived as part of an FBI-led global programme, neither was it conducted under a foreign operational command.”

The Authority also emphasised that foreign law enforcement agencies cannot independently exercise police powers or conduct arrests in Ghana without the involvement and authorisation of the relevant Ghanaian authorities.

While defending Ghana’s leadership of the operation, the CSA acknowledged the contributions of international partners.

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“The CSA acknowledges the valuable intelligence contributions of the FBI and the NCA. These partnerships support Ghana's efforts to combat transnational cybercrime and remain important to effective investigations and operations.”

It called on the FBI to clarify its public account of the operation and acknowledge the roles played by Ghanaian institutions and other participating agencies.

According to the CSA, the operation uncovered suspected cybercrime centres in parts of the Greater Accra Region, leading to the arrest of eight suspects and the rescue of 120 people suspected to have been trafficked and exploited for online fraud.

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The operation followed intelligence received on August 26, 2026, about suspected organised cybercrime activities, including romance scams, at apartments in Ubuntu Haven Estate in Kpone Katamanso, Franko Estate in Ga North and other locations in Ga West.

Items seized included 136 mobile phones, 130 laptops, internet connection devices and four vehicles. One of the vehicles was reported to have been stolen from Canada. Authorities also recovered jewellery and 10 Nigerian passports.

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The CSA said efforts were underway to repatriate the rescued victims, most of whom were identified as Nigerians, while investigations into the suspects and seized digital devices continued.

The Authority reiterated its commitment to tackling cybercrime, protecting victims and strengthening cooperation with international partners.