International Police Shut Down Ghana Cybercrime Group Behind $100 Million Scams

A well-known group of cybercriminals working from Ghana has been stopped after a big international operation. The operation involved the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Interpol, and police in Ghana. The people in this group are accused of running a huge fraud scheme that stole around $100 million. They were caught in Accra, Ghana, on June 13, 2025, and will likely be sent to the United States to face charges.

The news was shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Ölele | Building OSN (@OleleSalvador). Three men from Ghana were arrested. Their names are Isaac Kofi Oduro Boateng (also known as Kofi Boat), Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah. They are believed to have run a clever fraud network from 2016 to 2023. Their scams included tricking businesses through fake emails and fooling people in romantic relationships online to steal their money. Many of their victims were in the United States.

The arrests happened after the U.S. Embassy in Accra asked Ghana to hand over the suspects. Ghana’s Interior Minister, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, signed an official order for this on March 18, 2025. A fourth suspect is still missing and has not been caught.

On June 16, the three men were taken to a court in Accra. The judge ordered them to stay in jail while waiting for the extradition process to send them to the U.S. If they are sent to America and found guilty, they could be charged with crimes like wire fraud and money laundering. These crimes can lead to a total of up to 40 years in prison.

More About the Cybercrime Group

In May 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York accused the Ghana-based group of targeting American businesses and older people who were easy to trick. The group pretended to be real company bosses in emails and convinced workers to send them large amounts of money. In other cases, people who fell for romance scams were tricked for months, losing all their savings to fake love stories.

U.S. investigators found that the group moved at least $100 million illegally. They used fake companies and cryptocurrency wallets to hide the money. At least one business and eight individuals were directly affected by these scams.

The leader of the group, Boateng, is said to have become very rich from these crimes. Reports say he owns many expensive cars and is well-known in wealthy circles in Accra. He is also linked to Ghanaian dancehall musician Shatta Wale, but the singer is not involved in any crimes.

Police think the group cleaned their stolen money by investing in local businesses and buying property, making it hard to track the illegal cash at first.

How the Arrests Happened

The arrests were the result of a long investigation by the FBI, Interpol, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. The FBI’s office in Accra worked with Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), which helped with information and operations.

The U.S. government sent a formal request to Ghana on June 13, leading to the arrests. This teamwork shows that countries are working more closely to stop cybercrime.

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said on June 14, “This arrest sends a strong message: police around the world will not let cybercriminals escape justice.” She added that the U.S. Justice Department is focused on breaking up fraud networks, especially those that target older Americans.

Reactions in Ghana

The arrest of these three cybercrime suspects has caused different reactions in Ghana’s tech and business world. Ghana’s startups received about $500 million in investments in 2024, and some worry this case could hurt the country’s reputation. Experts say Ghana needs better cybersecurity and fraud prevention laws to avoid scaring away investors in the future.

However, many people see Ghana’s quick action as a good sign. The EOCO and Ghana Police Service have been praised for helping with the arrests and the investigation.

What Happens Next

In the next few weeks, there will be court hearings to decide if the suspects will be sent to the U.S. Legal experts believe American prosecutors will push for strong punishments. Under U.S. law, wire fraud can lead to 20 years in prison for each charge or 30 years if the victim is elderly. Money laundering can add another 10 years per charge.

Because the crimes were so big, the suspects could end up with total sentences of 40 years or more if found guilty.

This case shows that cybercrime groups in Africa are becoming more advanced but also that police from different countries are working together to stop them. It is also a warning to scammers: the law can reach them, no matter where they are.