The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has rejected claims that the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) independently conceived, commanded or executed Operation Blackout, insisting that the operation was led and coordinated by Ghanaian authorities.
The Authority’s response follows a post on X by FBI Director Kashyap Pramod Patel concerning the operation, also known as Operation Cyber Hunt.
In a statement, the CSA said Ghanaian institutions planned and carried out the operation within the country’s legal and institutional frameworks, with support from local and international law enforcement agencies.
“The Authority rejects any portrayal of the operation as independently conceived, commanded or executed by the FBI,” the statement said.
The CSA explained that the operation was led and coordinated by the Authority, with support from Ghana’s National Security Council, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service and the Office of the Attorney-General.
Other participating agencies included the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), the FBI, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime (JCTC).
The Authority said the operation was conducted under Ghanaian leadership and should not be presented as part of an FBI-led global programme.
“Ghanaian authorities planned, coordinated and executed the operation within Ghana’s legal and institutional frameworks,” the statement said.
It added that the operation was not conducted under foreign operational command.
The CSA also highlighted Ghana’s sovereignty, stressing that foreign law enforcement agencies cannot independently exercise police powers or make arrests within the country.
“Foreign law enforcement agencies have no independent authority to exercise police powers or conduct arrests within Ghana,” the Authority stated.
It explained that foreign agencies must work through lawful cooperation, with the authorisation and involvement of the relevant Ghanaian authorities.
Despite its objection to the portrayal of the operation, the CSA acknowledged the intelligence contributions of the FBI and the NCA.
“The CSA acknowledges the valuable intelligence contributions of the FBI and the NCA,” the statement said.
The Authority said international partnerships remain important in tackling transnational cybercrime and supporting effective investigations.
However, it maintained that the roles of all participating agencies must be represented accurately.
“The CSA calls upon the FBI to clarify its public account of the Ghana-led operation and acknowledge the contributions of the Ghanaian institutions and other international partners responsible for its execution,” it added.
The Authority said it remained open to constructive engagement to ensure the public record accurately reflects the roles played by the different agencies.
Operation Blackout uncovered suspected cybercrime centres in parts of the Greater Accra Region, resulting in the arrest of eight suspects and the rescue of 120 people suspected of being trafficked and exploited for online fraud.
The operation followed intelligence received on August 26, 2026, that several apartments at Ubuntu Haven Estate in Kpone Katamanso, Franko Estate in Ga North and other locations in Ga West were allegedly being used as bases for organised cybercrime, including romance scams.
Items recovered included 136 mobile phones, 130 laptops, internet connection devices, four vehicles, digital equipment, jewellery and 10 Nigerian passports. One of the vehicles was reported to have been stolen from Canada.
Authorities are working to repatriate the rescued individuals, most of whom have been identified as Nigerians.
Investigations into the suspects and the seized digital devices are ongoing.
The CSA reiterated Ghana’s commitment to dismantling cybercrime networks and protecting the public from online fraud and other cyber-enabled offences.
It said efforts would continue to strengthen intelligence-led investigations, coordination among agencies, digital forensic capabilities and international cooperation.
The Authority added that protecting victims, preserving evidence, observing due process and prosecuting offenders remained central to its work.
Read the statement below:
