The initial raids that led to the rescue occurred in February 2025 and involved collaboration between police in Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Following their rescue, the victims were referred to a nongovernmental organization for further assessment and support.

The traffickers compelled victims to create misleading social media posts that portrayed a luxurious life in Canada, deceiving others about their supposed employment.

Victims were coerced into paying up to $9,000 to traffickers who transported them to Abidjan, where they were held under duress and forced to engage in fraudulent activities.

On April 22, 2025, Interpol announced the successful rescue of 33 West Africans from a human trafficking ring in Ivory Coast that had lured them with false job promises in Canada.

The scheme was uncovered after the father of two victims alerted Ghanaian authorities, revealing the extent of the trafficking operation that included victims from Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Ghana.

Youssouf Kouyate, director general of the Ivory Coast National Police, praised the cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the bravery of the victims involved in the investigation.

Human trafficking scams have become increasingly prevalent in West Africa, prompting regional police to conduct mass raids, including one that arrested over 300 individuals in 2024.

To maintain the illusion of their overseas employment, limited communication with their families was allowed.

Interpol plays a crucial role in facilitating international police cooperation to combat organized crime and human trafficking.