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A high-profile cybercrime syndicate operating out of Ghana has been dismantled following a coordinated international crackdown involving the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Interpol, and Ghanaian authorities. The suspects, allegedly responsible for a wide-ranging $100 million fraud scheme, were apprehended in Accra on June 13, 2025, and are now facing extradition to the United States.

The breakthrough, detailed in an Xpost by Ölele | Building OSN (@OleleSalvador), led to the arrest of three Ghanaian nationals, Isaac Kofi Oduro Boateng (alias Kofi Boat), Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah, who are accused of orchestrating a sophisticated fraud network that operated between 2016 and 2023. Their tactics allegedly included business email compromise (BEC) schemes and romance scams targeting US-based individuals and companies.

The arrests followed an extradition request issued through the U.S. Embassy in Accra, backed by a formal warrant signed by Ghana’s Interior Minister, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, on March 18, 2025. A fourth suspect remains at large.

All three appeared before an Accra magistrate court on June 16 and were remanded in custody pending formal extradition proceedings. If extradited and convicted in a U.S. federal court, the suspects could face multiple charges, including wire fraud and money laundering, offences that carry combined penalties of up to 40 years in prison.

According to a May 2023 indictment from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Ghana-based syndicate targeted U.S. businesses and vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly. The group allegedly impersonated legitimate business executives via email to trick employees into transferring large sums. In some cases, victims of romance scams were manipulated over months, losing their life savings to fabricated relationships.

U.S. prosecutors have traced at least $100 million in illicit transfers linked to the ring, including transactions involving shell companies and cryptocurrency wallets. At least one business and eight individuals have been identified as direct victims of the scams.

The ringleader, Boateng, is believed to have amassed significant wealth through these illegal operations. Sources say he owns a fleet of luxury vehicles and maintains a high public profile in Accra’s elite circles. He is reportedly associated with Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale, though the artist has not been implicated in any wrongdoing.

Investigators believe the group laundered money through local businesses and properties, masking the origin of the funds and evading early detection.

The takedown is the result of a long-running cross-border investigation spearheaded by the FBI, Interpol, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. The FBI’s Legal Attaché in Accra worked closely with Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), which provided operational support and intelligence.

A diplomatic note from the U.S. government, submitted to Ghanaian authorities on June 13, initiated the arrests. The collaboration underscores a growing commitment to transnational cybercrime enforcement.

“This arrest sends a strong message: the global law enforcement community will not allow cybercriminals to operate with impunity,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a June 14 statement. She added that the Justice Department remains focused on dismantling international fraud networks, especially those targeting older Americans.

The arrest of three high-profile cybercrime suspects has stirred mixed reactions in Ghana’s tech and startup ecosystem, which attracted about half a billion dollars in venture capital funding in 2024.

While the crackdown affirms Ghana’s cooperation with international authorities, it also raises concerns about reputational damage and investor confidence. Analysts warn that unless the country strengthens its cybersecurity and due diligence frameworks, such incidents could deter future investments.

However, Ghana’s swift response is being viewed as a positive step toward transparency and global compliance. The EOCO and Ghana Police Service have both received praise for their role in executing the arrests and supporting the investigation.

With formal extradition hearings expected in the coming weeks, legal experts predict that U.S. prosecutors will pursue aggressive charges. Under U.S. federal law, wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years per count, which can be extended to 30 years when targeting older victims. Money laundering adds up to 10 years per count.

Given the scale of the alleged crimes, the accused could face consecutive sentences totalling 40 years or more if convicted.

This case highlights the increasing sophistication of Africa-based cybercrime rings and the growing collaboration between international agencies to dismantle them. It also serves as a stark warning to would-be scammers: the long arm of the law is global and closing in.

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