Nigerians residing in Ghana were among the 41 suspects arrested across Accra on Tuesday for allegedly engaging in unauthorised foreign exchange activities.

Others arrested during the Ghanaian Criminal Investigation Department’s joint operation included nationals of Ghana, Togo and Benin.

PUNCH Metro gathered from a Facebook post by Ghanaian radio station Radio Tamale 91.7 on Wednesday that several Ghanaians were also among those picked up during Tuesday’s raid.

According to the report, the Director-General of the CID, Commissioner of Police Lydia Donkor, said the arrests took place at hotspots such as Tudu, Circle, the Airport area and Cantonments, all in Accra.

Although the CID did not disclose the exact number of suspects from each nationality, PUNCH Metro learnt that more than GH¢1.2 million in cash was recovered during the joint operation with the Bank of Ghana.

“In total, 29 suspects, including Togolese, Beninois, Nigerians and Ghanaians, were arrested,” COP Donkor said.

She explained that the intelligence-led operation initially resulted in 29 arrests, followed by a second operation an hour later, which produced an additional 12 arrests.

The report stated that the recovered cash included GH¢1,266,770, 100,000 CFA francs, and N3.3m, including N1.2m held as e-cash on a Moneypoint machine, and $5,105.

“All cash exhibits have been secured and will be forwarded to the Bank of Ghana for safekeeping as investigations continue, after which the suspects will be charged and put before the court,” she said.

COP Donkor also disclosed that a previous operation was conducted on November 20, 2025, at Osu Oxford Street and Kwame Nkrumah Circle near GCB, where 28 suspects were arrested and later granted police enquiry bail by the Accra Circuit Court.

“In all, a total of 90 suspects have so far been arrested since this operation commenced in August 2025. Out of this number, 13 have been charged and brought before the Accra Circuit Court,” the CID Director-General added.

The report noted that the operations were part of a nationwide effort to sanitise the foreign exchange market and enforce compliance with Ghana’s laws and regulations.

This development comes less than 24 hours after PUNCH Metro reported the arrest of two Nigerians in South Africa who were allegedly involved in trafficking animal parts.

The suspects were caught with 17 rhino horns as well as tiger and lion claws, bones and skulls weighing 81.6 kilogrammes, which they were reportedly attempting to transport to another country. (The PUNCH)

• At a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the CID Director-General, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, detailed the latest swoop carried out in partnership with the Bank of Ghana

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