The U.S. 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, in a post on X on Thursday, 8 October 2026, said the operation in Ghana had so far identified nearly $10 million in losses and 89 victims.
He added that more than 300 devices had also been seized.
The over 130 people, according to the FBI director, were arrested or detained, including victims of trafficking who are expected to be repatriated to their home countries as investigations are still ongoing.
Kash Patel described the operation, dubbed “Operation Blackout,” as a global effort targeting scam compounds that prey on Americans.
“These scam compounds target American citizens and destroy lives,” he said, adding that the FBI was pursuing such operations “in every corner of the world.”
According to Patel, the broader Operation Blackout has so far resulted in roughly $17 billion being seized, while hundreds of alleged scammers have been arrested and thousands of trafficked workers freed.
The FBI operation has also warned more than 10,000 Americans before they lost money, with an estimated $670 million in losses prevented, Patel said.
The FBI has not indicated when the Ghana investigation will be completed or provided further details about the identities of those arrested or detained.
