The Ashanti Regional Police Command
has apprehended a total of 44 Cameroonian nationals, including 29-year-old
Bella Merie, in connection with alleged internet fraud and human trafficking
activities. The arrests were made on Monday, April 7, 2025, at a residence
located in Kenyasi Abrem within the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
According to a statement issued by
Deputy Superintendent of Police Godwin Ahianyo, who also serves as the Head of
the Public Affairs Unit for the region, the group was arrested following a
targeted operation based on intelligence. Preliminary investigations revealed
that the main suspect had lured victims under the false promise of securing
them employment opportunities in Ghana. The victims—thirty-two males and eleven
females, aged between twenty-two and thirty-eight—were said to have paid a
total of 4,500,000 CFA Francs in the process.
The fraudulent operation was
reportedly executed using an internet scam model commonly known as Q-NET. The
statement indicated that the suspects manipulated their victims with deceptive
job offers, which turned out to be non-existent upon arrival. The police
emphasized that this fraudulent scheme was highly coordinated and designed to
exploit unsuspecting individuals from the region.
Following the arrest, all
individuals, including the primary suspect and the victims, have been handed
over to the Ghana Immigration Service at the Regional Headquarters. They are
expected to undergo further immigration processes that will include
repatriation to their country of origin.
The Ghana Police Service used the
opportunity to reiterate its ongoing commitment to combatting fraudulent
activities and ensuring the safety of all residents—both local and foreign.
Authorities have pledged to intensify operations aimed at dismantling such
criminal networks while urging the public to remain vigilant and report
suspicious activities.
This incident adds to growing
concerns over the exploitation of vulnerable individuals through internet-based
recruitment schemes across the region. The arrest of the 44 Cameroonian
nationals marks a significant breakthrough in the effort to clamp down on
international fraud and human trafficking operations in Ghana.
The Police have encouraged citizens
to be cautious of unrealistic job promises advertised online and have assured
continued collaboration with immigration authorities to monitor and prevent
such illegal activities in the future.
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