A large-scale human trafficking and scam network that was operating under the pretense of the contentious multi-level marketing organization QNET has been taken down by Interpol in collaboration with the police forces of Ghana and Ivory Coast.
33 West African victims who were trafficked to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, after being tricked by promises of lucrative jobs in Canada were saved as a result of this operation. There, they were coerced into taking part in scams by pretending to be living happily overseas over the internet.
The victims, hailing from Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Ghana, paid up to $9,000 to the traffickers. The scheme came to light when the father of two victims reported the situation to Ghanaian authorities, prompting joint raids by Ivorian and Ghanaian police in February. The victims have since been referred to a nongovernmental organization for care.
QNET has faced numerous controversies globally, with allegations of operating pyramid schemes and fraudulent activities.
In Ghana, four QNET Independent Representatives were arrested for allegedly recruiting 580 youths under suspicious circumstances, requiring them to pay significant sums.
Similar incidents have been reported in other countries, including Togo, where over 100 youths were taken hostage under the banner of QNET in Côte d’Ivoire.
Interpol has highlighted this case as part of a broader trend of rising human trafficking scams in West Africa, where coordinated law enforcement efforts have resulted in mass arrests, including over 300 people in 2024.
The agency praised the cross-border collaboration and the bravery of the victims who came forward to assist in the investigation.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
