Sixteen (16) people, including Ghanaian and foreign nationals, have been arrested in a National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) crackdown on organised counterfeit-currency syndicates operating across the Greater Accra Region and surrounding districts.
The arrests followed six intelligence-led operations conducted between June 12 and July 24, 2026, targeting networks allegedly involved in the large-scale production, possession and distribution of counterfeit local and foreign currencies.
The NSCS said in a statement on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, that the operations also led to the seizure of four counterfeit-currency printing machines, six vehicles and two motorcycles allegedly used by the syndicates.
The security agency said it recovered $543,000, GH¢196,600 and CFA60,000 in counterfeit notes that were ready for circulation.
It also seized counterfeit coupons allegedly awaiting processing and printing, including $5.29 million, GH¢19.55 million and CFA623.55 million.
The NSCS said the operations were carried out after months of covert intelligence gathering into reports of counterfeit currency entering commercial hubs, foreign exchange markets and financial networks.
According to the agency, the syndicates operated through structured networks involving technical printing operators, cross-border facilitators and commercial dispatch riders responsible for transporting counterfeit currency to buyers.
In one operation targeting a transnational criminal cell, seven suspects — three Ghanaians and four foreign nationals — were arrested. Three vehicles and $65,900 in counterfeit notes were also seized.
At Amuzu, a suburb of Kasoa, security operatives arrested one suspect and seized a currency printing machine, fake gold bars, mobile phones and large quantities of counterfeit currency.
Five suspects were arrested during an operation in Lashibi and Klagon, where investigators said they discovered printing equipment and a storage facility containing large quantities of counterfeit currency materials.
Another operation at Lakeside Estate resulted in the arrest of a suspected distributor and the seizure of five boxes of counterfeit GH¢200 notes with an estimated face value of GH¢12.42 million, along with two motorcycles.
The NSCS said some of the syndicates had allegedly used religious and administrative premises as cover for printing and storing counterfeit currency.
It said all 16 suspects had been remanded into state custody and that case dockets had been submitted to the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice.
Formal prosecution proceedings are ongoing at the Accra High Court, while security agencies continue efforts to locate other suspects identified during the investigations.
The NSCS said prosecutors had also begun processes to seek the forfeiture of vehicles, printing equipment and mobile devices allegedly used in the operations.
The agency urged financial institutions, property owners and administrators of religious facilities to remain vigilant and report suspicious high-volume printing activities and unusual foreign-currency transactions to the security agencies.
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