Thirty-three women, all Nigerian nationals between the ages of 18 and 28, believed to be victims of a sex trafficking syndicate have been rescued at Nipa-ne-Kuro near Denkyira Subin in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central region.
The Central North Regional Police Command, led by Deputy Commissioner Of Police (DCOP) Abraham Acquaye and a 35-member task force, participated in the operation undertaken on September 11, 2025.
The team also arrested six males, all Ghanaian nationals for their role in the operations of the brothel.
DCOP Acquaye said the police also retrieved a locally manufactured shotgun, quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, a half-gallon of locally brewed alcohol suspected to have been laced with drugs, and several restricted substances from the premises.
Briefing the media, DCOP Acquaye revealed that the operation was carried out at around 5 a.m on Thursday.
Promises of jobs
He said the victims had told police they had been lured into Ghana by handlers with promises of white-collar jobs, only to be forced into commercial sex work under harsh and abusive conditions.
According to police investigations, the victims were required to pay between GHS 500 and GHS 1,000 daily to their handler, identified only as “Baby Rich” a nigerian, who is.currently on the run.
DCOP Acquaye said preliminary information gathered indicated that the women were maltreated and harassed to engage in rigorous sexual encounters and those who failed to meet the daily set targets were subjected to degrading and inhumane punishments.
Punishment
He said victims recounted being beaten, forced to eat human excreta, brush their teeth with it, and in some instances, had pepper inserted into their private parts or smeared on their bodies.
He stated that one victim was currently battling serious eye injuries after being struck with a stick while another was suffering severe abdominal pain, suspected to be due to a dislocated womb, following forced sexual encounters.
DCOP. Acquaye said victims also claimed that despite their deteriorating health, Baby Rich, denied them medical care.
Oaths
DCOP Acquaye said the victims said on arrival at the site, they were taken to a shrine, stripped naked, had their heads shaved, and were made to swear oaths under duress.
He said they were threatened that any attempt to escape would result in madness or death.
The suspects, he said were currently in custody and assisting with investigations and would be handed over to the human trafficking unit of the Ghana Immigration Service for further support and action.
DCOP Acquaye emphasized that the police remained committed to dismantling trafficking networks and called for community support in reporting suspicious activities.
Source: graphic.com.gh