16 arrested, over $5.8m in counterfeit currency seized in NSCS crackdown

Sixteen individuals, both Ghanaians and foreigners, were apprehended in a recent crackdown by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) on suspected counterfeit currency operations in the Greater Accra Region and nearby areas. Intelligence-led searches between June 12 and July 24, 2026, targeted groups allegedly involved in producing, possessing, and distributing fake Ghanaian and foreign currencies.

According to the NSCS, the operations yielded four currency-printing machines, six vehicles, two motorcycles, and an estimated US$543,000 worth of counterfeit notes, alongside GH¢196,600 and CFA60,000 in similar fake bills. Over US$5.29 million in counterfeit currency, along with GH¢19.55 million and CFA623.55 million, were also seized.

The security agency stated that these criminal groups utilized a network of printing specialists, cross-border facilitators, and motorcycle dispatch riders to distribute the counterfeit notes. Notable operations included one targeting a transnational criminal network that resulted in the arrest of seven individuals, including three Ghanaians and four foreigners, and the recovery of three vehicles, counterfeit notes worth US$65,900, and counterfeit gold bars.

Other operations led to the arrest of suspects at Amuzu, near Kasoa, Lashibi, and Klagon, with various counterfeit currency materials, printing equipment, and storage facilities seized. The NSCS noted that some suspects used religious and administrative buildings as fronts for their operations. All 16 arrested individuals have been taken into state custody, with their cases forwarded to the Attorney-General's Office and the Ministry of Justice.

Prosecution proceedings are ongoing in the Accra High Court, and the security agencies are working to apprehend additional suspects. The NSCS also initiated efforts to seek the forfeiture of the seized vehicles, printing equipment, and mobile devices. Authorities have appealed for vigilance from financial institutions, property owners, and religious facility administrators to report suspicious activities related to large-scale currency printing and unusual foreign currency transactions to the relevant security authorities.