Six Ghanaians are among 79 people arrested in Zambia during a joint security operation targeting a facility suspected of being involved in organised cybercrime, Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed.
The arrests were made in Lusaka on August 23, 2026, during an operation conducted by the Zambia Police Service, the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Department of Immigration.
According to a travel advisory issued by the Ministry on October 5, the six Ghanaians were arrested alongside 10 Zambians and 63 other foreign nationals.
The Ministry said investigations had revealed that some of the Ghanaian nationals were allegedly deceived into travelling to Zambia with promises of legitimate employment before being forced to participate in online scams.
“Some individuals had been recruited through purported legitimate employment opportunities, including online data-entry positions, but were subsequently forced into online scam activities after their passports were confiscated by their employers,” the Ministry said.
It said the incident highlighted the methods allegedly used by human trafficking syndicates to exploit job seekers through fraudulent employment offers.
The Ministry has therefore urged Ghanaians planning to travel to Zambia for work to take extra precautions and verify the legitimacy of job offers before making travel arrangements.
It advised prospective workers to thoroughly check recruitment agencies and prospective employers to ensure that employment opportunities are genuine.
Ghanaians already living in Zambia have also been encouraged to exercise caution when responding to employment opportunities advertised online.
The Ministry further advised them to maintain regular contact with the Ghana High Commission in Lusaka so they can access consular assistance when necessary.
It said the advisory forms part of government's broader efforts to protect the welfare and interests of Ghanaians travelling to or residing outside the country.
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I hope the government does not step in to negotiate their release There rules and regulations in every nation that must be obeyed by both the citizens and the natives.