In a decisive move to combat the escalating menace of human trafficking linked to fraudulent QNET recruitment schemes, the Ghana Police Service has announced a series of coordinated rescue missions that have freed scores of victims in both Ghana and Nigeria.
The operations, which took place between May 19 and June 27, 2025, were led by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, particularly in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press briefing, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the CID, disclosed that a total of 76 victims were rescued and seven Ghanaian suspects arrested across various Nigerian states during the joint operations.
According to her, thirty victims were freed in Ogun State on May 19, while another 15 were rescued in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on June 22, during which one suspect was arrested.
“The suspects are in the custody of the Nigerian authorities assisting investigation and subsequent prosecution. The Ghana police service is working to reunite the rescue victims with their families in Ghana.”
DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the CID
Back home in Ghana, the Director-General of the CID noted that the Ghana Police Service has also rescued 48 victims—nationals from Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Guinea—since June 2025.
She indicated that these foreign victims, trafficked into Ghana under false pretenses, were safely repatriated to their home countries through collaboration with the relevant national police services.
According to her, two suspects, both from Burkina Faso, were arrested in connection with these operations and are currently in custody.
“These are just a few of the QNET-related cases recorded in Ghana and Nigeria during May and June. We are deeply concerned about the spike in human trafficking incidents disguised as QNET recruitment schemes. The situation has triggered a surge in appeals for assistance from Interpol and National Central Bureaus across the sub-region.”
DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the CID
Highly Desceptive and Exploitative Scheme
The CID boss described the syndicate’s modus operandi as highly deceptive and exploitative, targeting young, energetic individuals—both employed and unemployed—between the ages of 17 and above.
For her, the victims include footballers, artisans, students, and even professionals like nurses and teachers, adding that many are lured with enticing offers of jobs abroad, placements in top football academies, or promises of travel to Europe and Canada for lucrative employment.
The Director-General of the police CID further noted that once convinced, the victims—both Ghanaians and foreign nationals—are typically instructed to travel by road to another country.
Upon arrival, they are met by a syndicate member, lodged briefly in hotels, and forced to pay additional “facilitation” fees ranging between CFA 800,000 to 2,000,000 for francophone victims and over $1,000 for Ghanaians.
Subsequently, they are moved into overcrowded “holding camps,” where up to 40 people live in substandard conditions. All personal belongings, including phones and travel documents, are confiscated. Victims are introduced to the QNET scheme and are pressured to recruit others with the promise of earning significant commissions.
According to her, often, the scam intensifies as victims are coerced into deceiving their own families, adding that through the use of the victims seized mobile phones, syndicate members impersonate the victims to reach out to their contacts, soliciting money under false pretenses.
“This leaves victims traumatized, afraid, and sometimes too ashamed to return home. In many cases, they are so malnourished and psychologically affected that they are unable to resume their normal lives or professions.”
DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the CID
Barriers to Locate Victims
DCOP Donkor also indicated that the issue of locating victims has proven difficult for the police, as phone numbers are often deactivated or reassigned by the traffickers once the victims are under their control.
Despite these obstacles, she noted that the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service has made commendable progress, successfully rescuing and prosecuting several perpetrators.
According to her, this year alone, a number of convictions have been secured, with offenders serving their sentences in Ghanaian prisons.
The CID Director-General further referenced the landmark July 20, 2022 ruling by the Commercial Division of the Accra High Court, which ordered the dissolution of QuestNet Limited (QNET) following a petition filed by the former Attorney General.
The court found the company guilty of operating an illegal business model comparable to a Ponzi scheme. She added that notably, QNET’s operations have also been banned in several countries within the sub-region.
“The activities of QNET and its affiliates—marked by deception, coercion, movement restrictions, and confiscation of travel documents—constitute criminal offenses under Ghana’s Anti-Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) and the Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29).
“Anyone found culpable of recruiting or luring others into these schemes, whether within Ghana or across borders, will face arrest and prosecution.”
DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the CID
Beyond legal enforcement, DCOP Donkor stressed the urgent need for public vigilance. She urged the public, especially young people, to conduct due diligence before accepting travel or job offers, particularly those involving movements to or from other West African countries.
“Let us be especially cautious when invitations are made for visa appointments, training, or job recruitment abroad. Many victims are unknowingly walking into a trap”.
DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the CID
She also called on property owners, landlords, and co-tenants to be mindful of what their spaces are used for, and to be aware of who lives in their buildings and communities.
In cases where individuals discover they have been deceived upon arrival in another country, she advised them to quickly notify their families or report to the nearest police station for assistance.
Assuring the public of continued action, DCOP Donkor reaffirmed the commitment of the Ghana Police Service and its partners across the sub-region to clamp down on human trafficking syndicates.
She called for stronger cooperation among member states, security agencies, civil society organizations, and the media to raise awareness and ensure protection for vulnerable populations.
On behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohonu, and the Police Management Board, DCOP Donkor commended the officers of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, National Central Bureau, Interpol, and all others who contributed to the swift and professional handling of these cases.
READ ALSO: Goosie Tanoh Unpacks 24-Hour Economy Plan Ahead of Presidential Launch
