The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States (US), Kash Patel, has acknowledged the role of Ghanaian authorities in an international crackdown on scam centre fraud, Operation Blackout, which has so far resulted in the seizure of about US$17 billion.

In a post on X on Sunday, October 11, 2026, the FBI chief said that the operation had led to the arrest of hundreds of alleged scammers and the rescue of thousands of trafficked workers.

Additionally, he disclosed that Operation Blackout had led to more than 10,000 Americans being warned before they lost their money, preventing estimated losses of US$670 million.

“OPERATION BLACKOUT: This FBI’s global crackdown on scam centre fraud continues to deliver outstanding results in Ghana.

Operation Blackout totals so far:

Roughly $17 BILLION seized
Hundreds of alleged scammers arrested
Thousands of trafficked workers freed
10,000+ Americans warned before losing their money
$670 MILLION in estimated losses prevented,” he wrote on X.

The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) had challenged FBI Director Kash Patel's account of a recent operation against suspected cybercrime networks in Ghana, insisting that the exercise was led and coordinated by Ghanaian authorities.

The Authority said the operation, known as "Operation Cyber Hunt" or "Operation Blackout", was planned and carried out under Ghana's laws and institutions, with support from international partners, including the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA).

$10M losses, 89 victims: FBI detains over 130 in Ghana scam centre crackdown

In a press release issued on October 8, 2026, the CSA rejected any suggestion that the operation was independently planned or led by the FBI.

The response followed a post by Kash Patel on X, in which he presented the operation as part of the FBI's global campaign against scam centres.

"OPERATION BLACKOUT: This FBI's global scam centre fraud demolition. Another takedown this week out of Ghana," he wrote on October 8, 2026.

The FBI director said the operation had so far identified nearly US$10 million in losses involving 89 victims, while more than 130 people had been arrested or detained and over 300 electronic devices seized.

However, the CSA said the public account should reflect the roles played by Ghanaian institutions and other international partners.

It stressed that the operation was not conducted under the command of a foreign agency.

"Ghanaian authorities planned, coordinated and executed the operation within Ghana's legal and institutional frameworks, and it thus cannot be said to have been conceived as part of an FBI-led global programme; neither was it conducted under a foreign operational command," the statement said.

BAI