From the dream to the trap: 76 Ghanaians fell in the trafikers net in Nigeria

Traduzione di Elena Ciullo

A few months ago, between 19 May and 27 June 2025, the law enforcement of Ghana in collaboration with the Nigerian authorities and Interpol, released 76 Ghanaian citizens involved in a scam based on false promises of work and football contracts abroad.

The false promises

The victims, mainly young men, were persuaded by self-styled agents and intermediaries to leave for Nigeria, attracted by job offers abroad, the illusion of being able to enter prestigious academies or football teams and the promise of obtaining visas that would allow them to move freely in search of a better life. The offers seemed credible: documents, photographs and contacts were presented that gave the impression of a serious organization. In order to join, victims were asked to pay sums of money intended, according to the fraudsters, to cover travel expenses, training courses or visas.

A scammed young man told the local media: "We were told that we would play in an international academy. I paid everything I had, but when we arrived there was nothing real. Once they arrived in Nigeria, the Ghanaians found out that the reality was quite different. There were no jobs or sports teams ready to take them on. People were taken to overcrowded, dilapidated and unhygienic dwellings where they were forced to live under strict supervision. The traffickers immediately confiscated documents and telephones, preventing any direct contact with the outside world. The victims were forced to communicate with their families only to ask for money, with figures that were around 1,000 dollars. The money would be used, as explained by the fraudsters, to complete paperwork or cover expenses of stay but actually ended up in the pockets of the criminal network.

The system worked like a chain. Those who had already fallen into the trap were forced to recruit other acquaintances or relatives, repeating the same promises that had convinced them. This method, similar to a pyramid scheme, allowed the organization to rapidly expand the number of people involved.

The rescue

Ghanaian families who were no longer able to contact their loved ones started reporting the situation to the authorities. The complaints led the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Ghana to open an investigation and thanks to a joint operation with the Nigerian police and Interpol, the places where people were detained, and between 19 May and 27 June 2025, 76 Ghanaian citizens have been released. In the same context seven suspects were arrested, accused of being part of the network of traffickers.

The spokesman of the Nigerian police told the press: "These people were detained against their will and forced to ask their families for money. There was no job opportunity behind these promises".

Suspected links with QNET

During the investigation, the Ghanaian authorities pointed to possible links between the organisation and QNET, an international network marketing company. According to the police, the methods of recruitment and the operation of the scam resembled the pyramid schemes associated with this company. QNET, however, rejected all charges, stating that it had no role in the affair and was unaware of any legal proceedings against it. The authorities have clarified that the investigations are still ongoing and that the aim is to completely dismantle the network.

The conditions of the victims

When they were released, many of the people involved were in poor health. Several were malnourished, debilitated and traumatized by the experience. In addition to the material deprivation, victims have also suffered strong psychological pressure: some reported being forced to contact relatives and friends to convince them to enter the scheme, becoming unwitting tools of the scam.

An Interpol official, as reported by France24, explained: "Many of them were vulnerable young people with dreams of a better future. The traffickers have exploited these aspirations in a cruel way".

The Ghanaian authorities have initiated the repatriation process and offered assistance for the psychological and social recovery of the victims, although it remains difficult to ensure a rapid and complete reintegration.

The socio-economic situation in Ghana

To understand how these scams can fool so many people, it is necessary to consider the socio-economic context of Ghana. The country has experienced economic growth in recent years, driven in particular by the extraction of gold, oil and cocoa. However, the distribution of wealth remains very unequal and access to decent work opportunities is limited.

Youth unemployment is one of the main challenges: many young people, even with educational qualifications, struggle to find stable and well-paid jobs. Low wages and lack of prospects fuel the desire to emigrate and seek fortune abroad.

Football is a fascinating field. For many young people it represents a concrete hope of social and economic redemption. Promises to play in foreign teams or international academies are therefore very convincing, especially when presented in a professional way.

In this context, criminal organisations find fertile ground. The lack of strict controls on recruitment agencies, combined with the difficulty of verifying the veracity of job offers abroad, makes people vulnerable. The need to support families economically pushes many to take risks, even when the proposals seem too advantageous to be true.

World International APS - Private Reproduction ®2025