Kash Patel announces arrest of 300 in $15m Ghana-Nigeria scam bust

FBI Director Kash Patel has announced the arrest of 300 individuals and the seizure of $15 million in a massive law enforcement operation targeting scam centers in Ghana and Nigeria. The operation, which aimed to dismantle transnational criminal networks defrauding American citizens, was highlighted during a White House press conference on October 22, 2026. The briefing was attended by U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, signaling the high-level priority the administration has placed on international fraud.

The crackdown is part of an intensive initiative to disrupt the infrastructure of fraud syndicates operating within West Africa. According to reports from the press conference, the criminal networks utilized sophisticated technological setups to target victims across the United States, leading to significant financial losses. During the presentation of the operation's results, President Trump was observed reacting visibly as Director Patel detailed the scale of the illicit activities and the $15 million recovered from the syndicates.

This major enforcement action reflects a deepening focus on addressing the growing threat of cyber-enabled fraud originating from the West African sub-region. By targeting the physical locations of scam centers in Ghana and Nigeria, the FBI and its partners intend to sever the operational roots of these organizations. Authorities have indicated that this seizure and the subsequent arrests are part of an ongoing campaign to protect Americans from foreign-based financial crimes and to ensure that those profiting from such schemes are held accountable.