The Cyber Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters has apprehended a 36 year old businessman in connection with allegations of online sexual exploitation and the unlawful circulation of intimate material involving multiple female victims without their consent.
The suspect, identified as Joshua Kojo Anane Boateng, was arrested on May 6, 2026, during a coordinated intelligence driven operation conducted jointly by the Cyber Crime Unit and the Bureau of National Investigations.
According to police authorities, Boateng, who resides in Accra, specifically within the East Legon enclave, is currently under investigation over allegations that he operated a Telegram platform identified as “VIP Sleep Fetish 2025,” where explicit content involving victims was allegedly distributed online.
Addressing journalists during a media briefing on Tuesday, May 12, concerning major criminal investigation developments, Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department and Commissioner of Police, disclosed that preliminary investigations suggest the suspect allegedly administered alprazolam, commonly referred to as Xanax, to unsuspecting women before sexually assaulting them, recording the incidents, and subsequently sharing the material digitally without authorisation.
Commissioner Donkor further indicated that investigators believe the suspect regularly visited entertainment venues and nightclubs throughout 2025, where he allegedly targeted victims, sedated them using controlled substances, and carried out sexual assaults before publishing the recordings and intimate images online.
During the arrest operation, security personnel reportedly recovered several electronic devices and suspected substances believed to be connected to the ongoing investigation. The retrieved items included two iPhones, a feature mobile phone, a memory card, a Seagate external hard drive, a MacBook laptop, an iSafe storage device, together with empty sachets suspected to have previously contained alprazolam and midazolam.
The Ghana Police Service confirmed that all electronic equipment seized during the operation has been retained for detailed forensic analysis as investigators work to uncover the full extent of the alleged criminal activities.
Authorities also disclosed that the recovered sachets are being forwarded to the Food and Drugs Authority for scientific verification and classification of the substances involved.
Commissioner Donkor further confirmed that the suspect has already been arraigned before the court while investigations continue into the allegations and any possible additional victims or collaborators connected to the case.
The Ghana Police Service reaffirmed its determination to intensify efforts against online sexual exploitation, cyber related abuse, and digital crimes targeting vulnerable individuals. Law enforcement officials also encouraged members of the public to promptly report suspected incidents through the appropriate security channels to support ongoing investigations and victim protection efforts.
