Ghana led Operation Blackout, not FBI – Cyber Security Authority rejects narrative

Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has asked the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to clarify its public account of Operation Blackout, insisting that Ghanaian authorities led and executed the cybercrime crackdown.

In a statement, the CSA said the operation, also known as Operation Cyber Hunt, was conducted under Ghana’s legal and institutional frameworks, with support from local and international law enforcement agencies.

The clarification followed a post on X by FBI Director Kash Patel concerning the operation.

The CSA said the exercise “was led and coordinated by the CSA,” with support from Ghana’s National Security Council, the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, the UK’s National Crime Agency, the FBI and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, among other agencies.

“Ghanaian authorities planned, coordinated and executed the operation within Ghana’s legal and institutional frameworks, and it thus cannot be said to be conceived as part of an FBI-led global programme, nor was it conducted under a foreign operational command,” the statement said.

The Authority stressed that foreign law enforcement agencies cannot independently exercise police powers or conduct arrests in Ghana without the involvement and authorisation of the relevant Ghanaian authorities.

While acknowledging intelligence contributions from the FBI and the UK’s NCA, the CSA called for accurate recognition of the roles played by all participating institutions.

“The CSA calls upon the FBI to clarify its public account of the Ghana-led operation and acknowledge the contributions of the Ghanaian institutions and other international partners responsible for its execution,” it stated.

The operation uncovered suspected cybercrime centres in Greater Accra, leading to the arrest of eight suspects and the rescue of 120 people suspected of being trafficked and exploited for online fraud.

According to the CSA, intelligence received on August 26, 2026, identified apartments in Ubuntu Haven Estate in Kpone Katamanso, Franko Estate in Ga North and other locations in Ga West as suspected bases for organised cybercrime, including romance scams.

Investigators seized 136 mobile phones, 130 laptops, internet connection devices and four motor vehicles, one of which was reportedly stolen from Canada. Jewellery and 10 Nigerian passports were also recovered.

The rescued individuals were identified largely as Nigerians, with repatriation arrangements underway as investigations continued.

The CSA reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to tackling cybercrime, stating, “Ghana remains committed to dismantling cybercriminal networks and protecting the public from online fraud and other cyber-enabled crimes.”