The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has insisted that Ghanaian authorities led and coordinated “Operation Blackout”, also known as “Operation Cyber Hunt”, following what it describes as an inaccurate portrayal of the operation as an FBI-led initiative.
In a press release dated October 8, 2026, the Authority said the operation was planned and executed by Ghanaian institutions under the country’s legal and institutional frameworks, with support from international law enforcement partners.
The clarification follows a post on X by the Director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kashyap Pramod Patel, concerning the operation.
The CSA rejected any suggestion that the FBI independently conceived, commanded or executed the exercise, stressing that the operation was not conducted under foreign operational command.
The Ghanaian agencies involved included the National Security Council, the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service and the Office of the Attorney-General.
International partners included the FBI, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime (JCTC).
While acknowledging the intelligence contributions of the FBI and the NCA, the CSA urged the FBI to clarify its public account and recognise the roles played by Ghanaian institutions and other international partners.
“Foreign law enforcement agencies have no independent authority to exercise police powers or conduct arrests within Ghana,” the Authority stated, adding that their participation must be based on lawful cooperation and the involvement of relevant Ghanaian authorities.
The operation uncovered suspected cybercrime centres at several locations in the Greater Accra Region, resulting in the arrest of eight suspects and the rescue of 120 people suspected to have been trafficked and exploited for online fraud.
According to the CSA, intelligence received on August 26, 2026, indicated that apartments at Ubuntu Haven Estate in Kpone Katamanso, Franko Estate in Ga North and other locations in Ga West were allegedly being used as bases for organised cybercrime, including romance scams.
Items seized included 136 mobile phones, 130 laptops, internet connectivity devices and four vehicles, one of which was reportedly stolen from Canada.
Investigators also recovered jewellery, ten Nigerian passports and other digital equipment.
The Authority said arrangements were underway to repatriate the rescued victims, most of whom were identified as Nigerians, while investigations into the suspects and seized devices continued.
The CSA reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to tackling transnational cybercrime, strengthening cooperation among security agencies and ensuring that offenders are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
It said victim protection, preservation of evidence and respect for due process would remain central to its operations.
Read the full statement below:
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