Six Ghanaians arrested in Zambia cybercrime crackdown

By: Godbless Asaana
Six Ghanaians are among 79 people arrested in Zambia during a joint security operation targeting a facility suspected of involvement in organized cybercrime, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed.

In a travel advisory issued on Monday, October 5, 2026, the Ministry said the six Ghanaians were arrested in Lusaka on August 23, alongside 10 Zambians and 63 other foreign nationals.

The operation was conducted by the Zambia Police Service, the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Department of Immigration as part of efforts to clamp down on suspected organized cybercrime activities.

The Ministry said some of the Ghanaian nationals may have been deceived into travelling to Zambia through fraudulent employment offers before allegedly 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.

According to the Ministry, the development highlights the growing use of fraudulent job opportunities by human trafficking syndicates to lure unsuspecting job seekers into illicit activities.

It has therefore urged Ghanaians travelling to Zambia or seeking employment there to exercise extreme caution and verify the authenticity of job offers, recruitment agencies and prospective employers before travelling.

The Ministry also advised Ghanaians already residing in Zambia to remain vigilant when responding to online employment opportunities and to maintain regular contact with the Ghana High Commission in Lusaka for consular assistance when necessary.

It said the travel advisory forms part of government’s broader efforts to protect the welfare and interests of Ghanaians travelling to or living outside the country.