The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that 28 Ghanaians victims of a sophisticated human trafficking network have been rescued.
Ablakwa disclosed that the 28 Ghanaians have been rescued and repatriated, adding that they were promised paradise in Europe by the traffickers after extorting huge sums of money from them.
In a post on Facebook, he wrote, “We have successfully rescued and repatriated 28 Ghanaians from Côte d’ Ivoire who were victims of a sophisticated human trafficking network.
All 28 Ghanaians had been promised paradise in Europe by the traffickers after extorting huge sums of money from them. Thankfully, they are back in Ghana safely following our special operation.
The Mahama Administration shall not abandon any Ghanaian in distress.
We, however, urge the youth to be alert and avoid falling prey to the modus operandi of these criminal networks”.
In related news, the information gathered has exposed a transnational human trafficking network where thousands of Ghanaians have been lured with promises of travel to Europe, are now trapped in camps, and forced into criminal activities such as prostitution and cybercrime.
Superintendent William Ayariga, Ghana’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, made this revelation following a joint intelligence effort.
According to Superintendent William Ayariga, a routine missing person’s investigation quickly exposed something far more disturbing.
He disclosed that, “Through tracking, we realised a large number of the victims we were searching for had been trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire”.
The report shared by Starrfm read, “Many of the victims had left Ghana believing they were on their way to countries like France and Canada. Instead, they were transported across West Africa, ending up in remote camps in northern Côte d’Ivoire.
One of the key locations identified is Bondoukou, where an estimated 2,500 victims are believed to be held. Other trafficking hotspots include: Aniabrekrom, Ambegro, Songor and Noé.
These camps serve as hubs for exploitation, where victims are brainwashed and forced into illicit activities”.
The report further added, “With support from Ivorian security forces, investigators managed to access one of the camps in Bondoukou. What they found was deeply disturbing.
Between 400 and 450 victims were identified in a single camp. Victims included pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children as young as two months old and their ages ranged from 16 to 60 years
Despite the breakthrough, the specific missing persons initially being tracked were not found.
Two suspected traffickers, identified as Deborah and Suzzy, were arrested and handed over to local authorities.
Deborah is believed to be a major kingpin operating multiple camps across Côte d’Ivoire, with recruitment networks extending into all regions of Ghana.
Suzzy, reportedly from Sefwi Wiaso, is said to have used multiple identities to recruit victims, including at least 10 individuals from Bibiani alone”.
Also, the “victims are targeted across all social classes, including teachers, nurses, bank executives, and even security personnel (military and police). They are promised jobs or relocation abroad, often to Europe. Families invest heavily
They often sell valuables, including cocoa farms, cars, and pay up to 130,000 cedis to ensure their relocation plans are achieved”.
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