The Central North Regional Police Command has rescued 33 young Nigerian women, aged between 18 and 24, during an operation in Nnipa Ne Kro, a community in Denkyira Subin in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central Region.
According to Regional Police Commander, DCOP Abraham Acquaye, the swoop was originally targeted at drug dealers but led to the discovery of a suspected prostitution and trafficking operation at a guest house.
Police believe nearly 50 women had been trafficked into Ghana and forced into commercial sex work. Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were subjected to maltreatment by their handlers, including physical abuse whenever they were unable to work due to illness or menstruation.
The operation led to the arrest of 33 women, six men, and the landlord of the facility allegedly used for the illegal activity.
Some of the women have begun sharing accounts of abuse and hardship, while police say investigations are ongoing to dismantle the network behind the trafficking.
