Police Bust Child Trafficking Syndicate

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Services has succeeded in rescuing two children believed to have been victims of an illicit trafficking syndicate.

The operation continues as authorities are in their desperate search for a five-year-old, who has been missing for weeks.

The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Commissioner of Police Lydia Yaako Donkor, who made this known in a press conference yesterday stated that, a midwife in charge of the maternity and labour ward at Trust Mother and Child Hospital in Osu, has been arrested for her involvement in the syndicate.

According to her, the suspect allegedly paid GH¢20,000 to enable the transfer of a missing seven-year-old daughter from another suspect, Janet Larbie.

Police further disclosed that the culprit allegedly gave Janet Larbie an extra GH¢35,000 and told her to send another five-year-old daughter to a couple in Pokuase.

She further revealed that information obtained indicates the group has been engaged in child trafficking for a long time.

 

The recent arrest and rescue of the children comes after the Central East Regional Police Command conducted an earlier operation that resulted in the arrest of six suspects in relation to child trafficking and child theft related offenses.

They are: Grace Osei Afriyie, Regina Agyeiwaa, Janet Larbie, Mary Dotsey, Yvonne Twumasi, and Seikena Umar.

The Kasoa Division of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) on April 10, 2026, received a complaint about the disappearance of seven-year-old Kadija Karim in Kasoa, Central Region.

Upon further checks, it was revealed that, the victim was lured by Seikena Umar and Janet Larbie who claimed of taking her to see her mother but was transported to an undisclosed location.

Subsequent investigations connected the suspects to another case involving a five-year-old girl and a 10-month-old infant who were allegedly taken from their mother under the pretense of being cared for.

The five-year-old girl, who is said to have been sent to Pokuase, has not yet been found, but the 10-month-old infant later traced to the Ashanti Region has been found and united to their family in addition with Kadija Karim.

All five persons connected to various trafficking issues are currently under detention with heavy police search for the five-year-old girl.

In related development, the Police is set to launch nationwide campaign against child sexual abuse to educate the public on child sexual abuse.

“It has come to the attention of the police administration that this type of crime is increasing because it is relatively easy to commit, difficult to detect and financially rewarding.

“I want to caution the general public that the police are actively collaborating with international partners and all relevant stakeholders to combat this crime, which dehumanises victims, negatively affects their self-esteem and places their future in jeopardy,” Lydia Yaako Donkor revealed at the press conference.