The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has disclosed that more than 130 people have been arrested or detained in Ghana as part of an ongoing global operation targeting scam centres accused of defrauding victims, including American citizens.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the development in a post on X on Thursday, October 8, 2026, stating that the operation in Ghana had uncovered nearly $10 million in losses involving 89 victims.
He added that more than 300 electronic devices had been seized as part of the investigation.
According to Patel, those arrested or detained include victims of human trafficking who are expected to be repatriated to their respective home countries. Investigations into the activities of the suspected scam centres remain ongoing.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Blackout,” is a global initiative targeting scam compounds accused of defrauding Americans and causing significant financial and personal harm.
“These scam compounds target American citizens and destroy lives,” Patel said, adding that the FBI was pursuing such operations “in every corner of the world.”
Providing an update on the broader operation, the FBI director said authorities had seized approximately $17 billion, arrested hundreds of alleged scammers and freed thousands of trafficked workers.
He further disclosed that the operation had helped warn more than 10,000 Americans before they lost money, preventing an estimated $670 million in potential losses.
The FBI has not disclosed when investigations in Ghana are expected to be concluded or provided further details about the identities of those arrested or detained.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged scam operations in Ghana, including the specific locations involved, have also not been detailed in the information released by the FBI.
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