Six Ghanaians have been arrested in Zambia as part of a major operation targeting a facility allegedly linked to organised cybercrime activities. The
Six Ghanaians have been arrested in Zambia as part of a major operation targeting a facility allegedly linked to organised cybercrime activities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the six were among 79 people arrested in Lusaka on August 23, 2026, during a joint operation conducted by the Zambia Police Service, the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Department of Immigration.
Those arrested included 10 Zambians and 63 other foreign nationals, according to a travel advisory issued by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on October 5.
The Ministry said preliminary information indicated that some of the Ghanaian nationals may have been lured to Zambia through fraudulent employment offers before allegedly being forced to participate in online scam activities.
Some of the victims were reportedly recruited through what appeared to be legitimate job opportunities, including online data-entry positions.
However, upon arrival in Zambia, their passports were allegedly confiscated by their employers, leaving them vulnerable to coercion and forced participation in cybercrime.
The Ministry said the incident highlights the growing use of fake employment opportunities by human trafficking networks to recruit unsuspecting job seekers into illegal activities.
Warning to Ghanaian Job Seekers
The Ministry has consequently urged Ghanaians seeking employment or planning to travel to Zambia to exercise extreme caution when responding to job advertisements.
It advised prospective job seekers to independently verify employment offers, recruitment agencies and prospective employers before making travel arrangements.
Ghanaians already living in Zambia have also been encouraged to remain vigilant, particularly when dealing with online employment opportunities.
The Ministry further advised Ghanaian nationals in Zambia to maintain regular contact with the Ghana High Commission in Lusaka and seek consular assistance whenever necessary.
The government said the travel advisory forms part of efforts to protect the welfare and interests of Ghanaians travelling to or residing outside the country.
The development has renewed concerns over the risks associated with online job recruitment scams and human trafficking, particularly as young people searching for employment increasingly rely on social media and online platforms to find opportunities abroad.
Authorities continue to caution job seekers to verify the legitimacy of overseas employment offers before travelling and to avoid surrendering their passports or other essential identity documents to prospective employers.
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