Six Ghanaian nationals are among 79 people detained in Zambia during an operation investigating a site suspected of links to organised cybercrime, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.
The group was taken into custody in Lusaka on August 23.
Those detained also included 10 Zambians and 63 citizens of other countries, according to a travel advisory released on October 5.
The operation involved the Zambia Police Service, Drug Enforcement Commission and Department of Immigration.
In a statement, the Ministry said some of the Ghanaian nationals may have been enticed to Zambia with false job offers, then compelled to participate in online scams.
Their passports were reportedly seized by employers, it added.
The Ministry said the case illustrated how trafficking networks can exploit bogus recruitment to draw jobseekers into unlawful activity.
Ghanaians considering travel or employment in Zambia were urged to verify vacancies, recruitment firms and prospective employers before departure.
Citizens already living in the country were also advised to take care when responding to online job advertisements and stay in contact with Ghana’s High Commission in Lusaka for consular support.
The Ministry said the guidance forms part of government efforts to protect Ghanaians overseas.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong