Police uncovers pornography syndicate

Ghana Police and Norwegian counterparts break big syndicate involving Ghanaian girls
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police Service and the Police in Norway, have uncovered a syndicate of foreigners who lure unsuspecting Ghanaian teenage girls, have sex with them, and take nude pictures which are sold abroad.

The girls who are between the ages of 12 and 14 are mainly from Agona Swedru, Kwanyako, Akroso, Cape Coast and Afransi all in the Central Region, appear on the Internet as sex dolls looking for partners overseas.

Mr Patrick Kwesi Acheampong, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) confirmed the story to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and said police in Norway had arrested a Danish based in Norway, Mogens Riber Nielsen, 59, in connection with the case.

The Deputy IGP said pictures of 12 teenage girls were found among over 3,000 films the suspect had produced, using mainly Ghanaian teenage girls.

Chief Inspector Idar Grotle of Interpol, Oslo, who is in the country as part of the investigations told the GNA that the Norwegian government was concerned about the incident.

He said the government in Oslo was determined to clampdown on foreigners who take advantage of the poverty situation in developing countries to abuse unsuspecting persons to enrich themselves.

Chief Inspector Grotle said "We want to send a clear message that Europeans cannot come and take advantage of the poor in another country with impunity and go scot-free, we will trace and prosecute them."

He said properties of Nielsen have been confiscated and the government has decided to compensate the girls who were lured and abused by him and his cronies.

He therefore, appealed to girls who have fallen victim to Nielsen's escapades or anyone who might know any of them to call 024-638620 or 024-254089 for assistance.

" The compensation could give them new life after such ordeal", he added.

Chief Inspector Grotle said most of the victims are often enticed with a meagre sum and due to their financial situation, succumb to such immoral activities.

He said the police, is also investigating another syndicate who pretend to be correspondents seeking for pen pals who are girls and later demand nude pictures of them with a promise of financial reward or finding them partners for marriage.

He said most of people correspond with the girls for their own financial benefits by selling pictures of their victims.

Deputy Superintendent of Police in-charge of Interpol, Mr Frank Kwofie told the GNA that following the discovery that most of the girls come from the Central Region, the Ghana Police is helping a Norwegian police delegation to the area to trace the victims.

Mr Acheampong said the CID has over the past few months, been working with sister police organisations to clampdown on child pornography and trafficking within and outside the sub-region.

"This would be at the fore of discussions when Nana Owusu-Nsiah, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), who is attending the 71st General Assembly Session of International Police Organisation (Interpol) in Cameroun returned.'

"The Police have no intention of arresting any of victims but rather needed their cooperation so that they could be adequately compensated", Mr Acheampong added.