In addition, the Office has re-listed the embattled former minister on its list of wanted persons and officially declared him a fugitive from justice.

Mr. Agyebeng declared that the OSP will deploy all legal means to secure Ofori-Atta’s return to Ghana.

He stated that the office will prefer criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta in due course, either in absentia or otherwise.

Through his lawyers, Mr. Ofori-Atta in a letter dated May 28, 2025, informed the OSP that he has been diagnosed with cancer and will be unable to meet the June 2, 2025 deadline.

However, Mr. Agyebeng, has described Mr. Ofori-Atta’s behaviour is unacceptable.

“Mr. Ofori-Atta’s conduct is totally unacceptable and a baleful spite at law enforcement and criminal investigation. It ends here, it ends today. We will no longer accommodate him,” he said.

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The operation, codenamed Safe Wheels, took place from March 17 to 30, 2025 and involved national law enforcement agencies across 12 West African countries, including Ghana and Nigeria.

More than 12,600 vehicles were inspected during the operation, resulting in the seizure of over 75 vehicles and the launch of 18 new investigations into vehicle crime and its links to organised criminal networks.

According to INTERPOL, the majority of stolen vehicles were traced to Canada, while others were identified as having been stolen in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Toyota, Peugeot and Honda were the most commonly recovered makes.

“Each year, hundreds of thousands of vehicles are stolen around the world, yet the initial theft is often only the beginning of a vehicle’s journey into the global criminal underworld,” said David Caunter, INTERPOL’s Director of Organized and Emerging Crime.

“Stolen vehicles are trafficked across the globe, traded for drugs and other illicit commodities, enriching organized crime groups and even terrorists.

INTERPOL’s SMV (Stolen Motor Vehicle) database is the strongest tool we have to track stolen vehicles and identify the criminals involved in this global trade,” he added.

The SMV database, which INTERPOL provides to its 196 member states, allowed officers in the region to check suspicious vehicles and immediately confirm their status. In 2024 alone, the database helped identify around 270,000 stolen vehicles globally.

In Nigeria, the operation uncovered six high-end vehicles—four of which bore signs of forced entry—hidden in freight containers arriving in Lagos from Canada. The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) confirmed that all six vehicles, including Toyota and Lexus models, had been reported stolen in Canada in 2024. Investigations are ongoing in collaboration with Canada’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau.

In support of Safe Wheels, INTERPOL deployed nine officers and experts from its SMV Task Force, including a specialist from Canada, to assist local law enforcement in Benin, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo.

The operation was carried out under Project Drive Out, a new partnership between INTERPOL and the Government of Canada aimed at curbing vehicle theft and the illegal trade in auto parts. Funding for the project was provided by Canada.

The participating INTERPOL member countries included Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo. Daily, law enforcement teams in these countries established an average of 46 checkpoints to inspect vehicles and track trafficked units.

Officials say the successful coordination of Safe Wheels highlights the growing threat of transnational vehicle crime in West Africa, often linked to broader networks of smuggling and illicit trade.

The operation marks a significant step in regional efforts to clamp down on organised vehicle theft and bolster international policing cooperation.

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The joint operation between Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana led to the arrest of two suspects and the rescue of 33 victims from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo.

According to Interpol, the criminal network lured victims with fake employment offers abroad, most notably in Canada. The case came to light after a Ghanaian father raised the alarm when his two daughters paid nearly $9,000 in fees to a recruiter who claimed to facilitate jobs in Canada, only for them to be trafficked to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

In a disturbing revelation, the victims were held against their will and subjected to psychological and physical coercion. They were forced to perpetuate the scam by recruiting new victims through multi-level marketing platforms.

Organizers reportedly provided them with Canadian phone numbers to create the illusion that they were working overseas and arranged photoshoots in luxury hotels and upscale shops to maintain the deception.

“A lot of families were misled into believing their loved ones were thriving abroad,” investigators said. “But the reality was a well-coordinated human trafficking and fraud operation.”

The Ghana Police Service launched an investigation after one victim escaped and returned home, providing authorities with vital information. Thanks to a police cooperation agreement between West African nations, the survivor was able to return to Côte d’Ivoire to support local investigations. Relatives of other victims also traveled to Abidjan to assist police with critical leads.

Interpol played a pivotal role in coordinating efforts between the two countries, facilitating intelligence-sharing and organizing simultaneous raids on two key locations in February 2025. The operation, led by specialized units in Côte d’Ivoire, culminated in the arrest of two suspects and the rescue of all 33 victims.

“The success involving Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana is an excellent example of how important police cooperation is when it comes to fighting human trafficking scams,” said Valdecy Urquiza, Interpol’s Secretary General. “Because of their joint efforts, victims have been saved and those responsible are now facing justice.”

Youssouf Kouyate, Director General of the Côte d’Ivoire National Police, echoed this sentiment: “Our close cooperation with Interpol and Ghanaian police was pivotal to the achievements of this operation and is a testament to the strength of our regional partnerships.”

The rescued individuals are currently receiving support and care through a local NGO. One of the main suspects has since been handed over to Ghanaian authorities for prosecution.

Interpol warned the public to remain vigilant against rising scams in West and Central Africa, especially those disguised as employment or educational offers abroad. Victims often face forced labor, extortion, and physical abuse, with their documents confiscated and personal connections manipulated to ensnare more targets.

Red flags, according to Interpol, include requests for upfront payments, vague job descriptions, unusually generous offers, and pressure tactics designed to rush decisions.

The international police agency reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling trafficking networks, protecting victims, and supporting law enforcement across its member countries.

“This is not just about policing borders,” said an Interpol spokesperson. “It’s about policing deception, restoring trust, and saving lives.”

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The vehicles, a 2016 Lexus RX 350 and a 2018 Toyota Tacoma, were identified as stolen from Canada in 2019 and 2022, respectively.

This discovery was made when the team entered the Republic of the Congo.

The flagged vehicles have been handed over to authorities in the Republic of the Congo, with law enforcement agencies in Canada and Ghana also notified.

The team’s remaining vehicle, a Ford F150 Raptor, has been shipped back to Ghana.

Wanderlust Ghana stated that the flagged vehicles were purchased in Accra after conducting due diligence, including Carfax verifications, which showed clean results at the time of purchase.

The organization has pledged full cooperation with ongoing investigations and plans to pursue legal action against the sellers of the vehicles.

It also highlighted the broader issue of stolen vehicles from North America entering Ghana’s market and announced plans to collaborate with U.S. and Canadian diplomatic missions to raise public awareness and address the influx of stolen vehicles.

Despite the setback, Wanderlust Ghana celebrated the achievements of the expedition, which covered 28,811 kilometers across 28 countries in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, promoting Ghana’s tourism potential.

The club is acquiring new vehicles to complete the journey and plans to undertake more expeditions in the future.

Video below:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Wanderlust GHANA (@wanderlustghana)

Operation Serengeti — led by Interpol and Afripol, the African Union’s policing organization — targeted individuals suspected of cybercrimes, including those involved in ransomware, digital extortion, online scams, and phishing schemes.

More than 35,000 victims were identified, with cases linked to nearly $193 million in financial losses worldwide, Interpol said.

The ‘Operation Serengeti’, which ran from September 2 to October 31, targeted criminals behind ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and online scams — all identified as prominent threats in the 2024 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report.

More than 35,000 victims were identified during the operation, with cases linked to nearly USD 193 million in financial losses worldwide.

The 19 African countries involved in the operation were Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Information provided by participating countries on ongoing cases with INTERPOL fed into 65 Cyber Analytical Reports, which were produced to ensure actions on the ground were intelligence-led and focused on the most significant actors.

Private sector partners, including Internet Service Providers, also played a vital role by sharing intelligence, supporting analysis, and disrupting criminal activities. They provided on-site support and offered round-the-clock remote assistance to patch vulnerabilities and secure critical infrastructure for the participating member countries.

Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL, said: “From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern.

“Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together, and these arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from real personal and financial pain. We know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will continue targeting these criminal groups worldwide.”

Ambassador Jalel Chelba, AFRIPOL’s Executive Director, said: “Through Serengeti, AFRIPOL has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States. We’ve facilitated key arrests and deepened insights into cybercrime trends. Our focus now includes emerging threats like AI-driven malware and advanced attack techniques.”

National case studies:

In Kenya, officers cracked a case of online credit card fraud linked to losses of USD 8.6 million. The funds, stolen through fraudulent scripts run after altering the banking system’s security protocol, were promptly redistributed by the group via SWIFT to companies in the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, and China, and subsequently to digital asset institutions offering trading and financial services regulated in multiple jurisdictions. Nearly two dozen arrests have been made so far.

Eight people, including five Chinese nationals, were arrested in Senegal for a USD 6 million online Ponzi scheme affecting 1,811 victims. A search of their apartment uncovered over 900 SIM cards, USD 11,000 in cash, phones, laptops, and copies of victims’ ID cards.

Nigerian authorities arrested a man accused of running online investment scams. He is believed to have made upwards of USD 300,000 by luring victims through messaging platforms with false promises of cryptocurrency returns.

In Cameroon, authorities arrested a group suspected of trafficking victims from seven different countries to run a multi-level marketing scam. After paying a “membership fee,” victims were promised employment opportunities or training, but once in Cameroon, they were held captive and obliged to lure others into the scheme to gain their freedom. Initial estimates show that the group had already pocketed at least USD 150,000 in fees.

Angolan investigators dismantled an international criminal group running a virtual casino in Luanda. The group, which primarily targeted Brazilian and Nigerian gamblers, defrauded hundreds through its online platform, offering a percentage of winnings to members who recruited new subscribers. Some 150 arrests were made, with officers seizing 200 computers and more than 100 mobile phones.

Operation Serengeti was carried out with funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the Council of Europe.

Operational partners included Cybercrime Atlas, Fortinet, Group-IB, Kaspersky, Team Cymru, Trend Micro, and Uppsala Security.

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He is being charged for accepting bribe to influence a public officer and acting in collaboration with a public officer for the public officers private gain.

According to Interpol, for the offence he is liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding of 25 years.

The arrest warrant which was issued on July 10, said once Mr Adam Mahama is traced, “assurances are given that an extradition will be sought upon arrest of the person, in conformity with national laws and/or the applicable bilateral and multilateral treaties.”

Ghana is one of five countries in which the European aviation giant, Airbus, paid or attempted to pay millions of dollars in bribes in exchange for contracts, leading a court in Britain to slap a fine of £3 billion on the company.

In court documents and hearings, Airbus admitted five counts of failing to prevent bribery, using a network of secret agents to pay large-scale backhanders to officials in foreign countries, including Ghana, to land high-value contracts.

The scheme was run by a unit at Airbus’ French headquarters, which its one-time chief executive, Tom Enders, reportedly called “bullshit castle”.

According to the report, there are six key actors involved in the scandal regarding Ghana.

Investigators from the UK’s SFO identified them only as Government Official 1 (high ranking and elected), Intermediary 5 (British national and close relative of Government Official 1), Company D (corporate vehicle for Intermediary 5 – shareholder), Intermediary 6 (British national and associate of Intermediary 5), Intermediary 7 (British national and associate of Intermediary 5), as well as Intermediary 8 (Spanish company and front for Intermediary 5).

Other British citizens; Philip Sean Middlemiss; Sarah Davis and Sarah Furneaux are connected to the case for their roles in the scandal.

Who is Samuel Adam Mahama?

Samuel Adam Foster aka Samuel Adam Mahama was born in Tamale on 14 December 1962 to Emmanuel Adamah Mahama and Nana Suluwu.

His current Ghanaian passport was guaranteed by John Mahama, described as former president of Ghana as first guarantor, and Alfred Abdulai Mahama, described as a Civil Servant, as second guarantor.

Alfred, John, and Samuel are brothers of the full blood in descending order of seniority. His UK address is 19 Avenue Road Penge, London, SE20 7RT, UK.

He was arrested by the International Police (Interpol) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Dubai together with his crew in the early days of June in one of their hideouts.

The Dubai Police Headquarters in the video hinted they had for four months tracked their every movement as well as monitor their social media activities.

They were allegedly involved in scams worth $435.6 million after defrauding 1,926,400 people, including companies of which they made fake emails to divert funds into their own account.

The police reclaimed 21 computers, 47 smartphones, five hard discs containing data, 15 storage devices and money amounting to $40,839,107.53.

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The Instagram celebrity drew Interpol’s attention to himself following his lavish life he proudly flaunted on social media.

He is known for ordering customised versions of products even before they are publicly launched.

Watch video of his arrest below:

Lawyers of for the embattled CEO have written to the government, asking for an Interpol alert on him to be revoked in the United Arab Emirates, saying the alert was causing an impediment in the retrieval of funds to pay aggrieved customers in Ghana.

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Speaking in an interview on Citi FM, Ms Clinton explained that releasing NAM1, as Mr Mensah is popularly called in Ghana, could stand him a high chance of getting his way with Ghanaian officials and the law.

 “Nana Appiah Mensah is a huge flight risk because he has the means and access to private jets, so people can issue passports and get it to him and we cannot take that risk because he has some serious charges of fraud by false pretences to answer to the Ghanaian authority.”

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“He needs to be on the Ghanaian soil to submit to authority under the jurisdiction,” she stated.

A statement signed on June 3, 2019, by the Head of Communications at Menzgold, Nii Armah Amartefio, urged the government to consider a bail bond of revoking the Interpol alert to enable him to recover his funds from Horizon Royal Diamonds so that he can pay clients in Ghana.

Source: Adomonline.com/Gertrude Otchere

In a statement issued and signed by the head of communications of Menzgold, Nii Armah Amartefio, the firm noted that the Interpol arrest on NAM1 was unjustifiable and the continuous detention of NAM1 was hindering efforts for the retrieval of customers’ locked up capital.

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“The release of Nana Appiah Mensah via bail bond or the revocation of the Interpol alert will enable the CEO to continue to pursue the 750kg of gold, now worth $39 million from Horizon Royal Diamonds,” the statement assured.

Below is the full statement:

Source: Adomonline.com