GHANA - The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced the dismantling of a suspected fraud operation in Ghana, with more than 130 people arrested or detained in an operation targeting international scam networks.

The operation, codenamed Operation Blackout, has reportedly uncovered nearly $10 million in identified financial losses, identified 89 victims and led to the seizure of more than 300 electronic devices.

FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed the development in a statement published on his official X account on Thursday, October 8, 2026, describing the raid as the latest action in the agency's global campaign against scam centres targeting American citizens.

According to Patel, the operation forms part of broader efforts to dismantle organised fraud networks responsible for defrauding victims, particularly vulnerable individuals in the United States.

Over 130 People Arrested or Detained

Providing details of the Ghana operation, Patel said more than 130 individuals had been arrested or detained, while investigators continued to assess the scale of the alleged fraud.

However, the FBI director clarified that the figure includes victims who are expected to be repatriated to their home countries, indicating that not everyone detained is necessarily suspected of participating in the alleged criminal activities.

The agency also reported identifying 89 victims and nearly $10 million in financial losses linked to the operation.

More than 300 electronic devices were seized during the raid, potentially providing investigators with evidence to support further inquiries into the suspected fraud network.

Patel said the investigation remained ongoing, warning that the scam centres targeted American citizens and caused significant financial harm.

FBI Reports Billions of Dollars in Global Crackdown

The Ghana operation is part of the FBI's wider Operation Blackout initiative, which targets international scam compounds and transnational fraud networks.

Providing an update on the campaign's overall results, Patel said the initiative had recorded approximately $17 billion in seized assets, hundreds of arrests and the liberation of thousands of trafficked workers.

He also said the FBI had warned more than 10,000 Americans about suspected scams before they lost money, with an estimated $670 million in potential losses prevented.

The figures were disclosed by the FBI director as part of the agency's account of its global enforcement and fraud-prevention activities.

Details of Ghana Raid Remain Limited

Despite announcing the operation, the FBI has not publicly disclosed the precise location of the suspected fraud compound in Ghana, the identities and nationalities of all those detained, or a detailed breakdown of the roles they allegedly played.

It also remains unclear how many of those detained will face criminal prosecution in Ghana or potential extradition proceedings in the United States.

The Ghana operation comes amid growing international efforts to combat cyber-enabled fraud, romance scams and other financial crimes targeting victims across national borders.

Authorities are expected to continue investigating the suspected network to establish the full extent of the alleged offences and identify other individuals who may have been involved.

The investigation remains ongoing.