THE article reports that Meta, alongside a cohort of tech companies and global law enforcement, targeted West Africa-based scam networks in a week-long operation that culminated in 28 arrests and the rescue of 117 trafficking victims. Beginning on 6 October 2026, the UK National Crime Agency hosted the operation at its London headquarters, with participation from the FBI, the US Department of Justice, Homeland Security Investigations, and police forces from Ghana, Nigeria, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and India.
Industry partners included Coinbase, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Starlink, Adobe, and others, which shared intelligence across platforms and payment systems to disrupt fraud chains from recruitment to money movement.
The crackdown led to the removal of more than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages, and groups linked to West Africa scam centers, and Meta described the operation as its first broad disruption of criminal networks in the region and the largest of its kind to date. The networks involved a mix of scams—crypto investment schemes, romance, fake job offers, impersonation of police or military personnel, and attempts to recover prior losses.
While 28 arrestees have not yet been convicted, authorities emphasised that many workers were themselves victims, and the rescued individuals had endured malnutrition and abuse in a residential compound in Ghana. The piece notes additional claimed results from partners, including blocked losses and traced funds, with plans for further investigations and a forthcoming UK Online Crime Centre to build on these efforts.