The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel, has recognised Ghanaian authorities’ role in an international operation targeting scam centre fraud, after the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) challenged his earlier description of the mission.

Operation Blackout has so far led to the seizure of about US$17 billion, the arrest of hundreds of alleged scammers and the rescue of thousands of trafficked workers, according to Mr Patel.

In a post on X on Sunday, October 11, 2026, the FBI director said more than 10,000 Americans had been warned before losing money. He added that the intervention had prevented 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.

The statement followed a dispute over the description of an operation against suspected cybercrime networks in Ghana.

The CSA said the exercise, referred to as “Operation Cyber Hunt” or “Operation Blackout”, had been planned and conducted by Ghanaian authorities under the country’s laws and institutional procedures.

It said international agencies, including the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), had provided support, but rejected any suggestion that the FBI had independently organised or directed the operation.

Dispute over Ghana operation

In a press release issued on October 8, 2026, the CSA responded to an earlier post by Mr Patel, who had presented the mission as part of the FBI’s worldwide 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.

At that stage, the FBI director said investigators had identified nearly US$10 million in losses involving 89 victims. More than 130 people had been arrested or detained, while over 300 electronic devices had been seized.

The CSA said that account did not properly reflect the contribution of Ghanaian institutions or the involvement of other international partners.

It stressed that the operation had not been carried out 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.