On Thursday, October 8, 2026, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation announced that it had arrested or detained more than 130 people in Ghana as part of its worldwide Operation Blackout, a campaign aimed at shutting down scam compounds that prey on American citizens. The arrests, carried out by Ghanaian authorities in cooperation with the FBI, included several victims of human trafficking who are expected to be repatriated while investigations continue.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that the Ghana operation has already identified nearly $10 million in losses and 89 victims, and that more than 300 devices were seized during the raids. He said the operation had also prevented an estimated $670 million in losses for over 10,000 Americans.
Patel described the effort as a global push, noting that the FBI is pursuing similar operations “in every corner of the world.” He added that the broader Operation Blackout has so far resulted in roughly $17 billion being seized, hundreds of alleged scammers arrested, and thousands of trafficked workers freed.
“These scam compounds target American citizens and destroy lives,” he said, adding that the FBI was pursuing such operations “in every corner of the world.”
The Ghana investigation remains ongoing, and the FBI has not yet disclosed when it will conclude or revealed the identities of those arrested or detained. The crackdown is part of a larger international effort to dismantle sophisticated fraud networks that exploit unsuspecting victims across borders.
Ghanaian police have worked closely with U.S. investigators to identify and dismantle the scam compounds, seizing computers, phones and other devices used to coordinate fraudulent activities. The operation also highlighted the link between online scams and human trafficking, as many of the detained individuals were found to be forced laborers within the compounds.
As the investigation progresses, authorities in both countries are expected to release further details on the scope of the crackdown and the steps being taken to protect potential victims. The FBI’s continued focus on international cooperation aims to curb the growing threat of cross‑border fraud and trafficking.
