Four arrested in connection with kidnapping of Chinese crew from Ghanaian vessel

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has confirmed the arrest of four individuals in connection with the abduction of three Chinese nationals from a Ghanaian fishing vessel at the Tema Port.

The incident, which occurred in April, involved a violent boarding of the Ghanaian-registered vessel Mengxin 1 by suspected pirates while it was operating within Ghanaian territorial waters. The kidnapped victims were identified as the vessel’s captain, chief mate, and chief engineer.

At a press briefing on May 6, the Director-General of the CID, DCOP Lydia Ayaako Donkor, revealed that the kidnapped crew members had been taken to a remote area in Nigeria, where they were later abandoned by their captors.

According to preliminary accounts, a group of seven armed men stormed the vessel around 5:53 p.m., discharging warning shots and compelling several crew members to lock themselves in a secure room. The assailants reportedly remained aboard for nearly three hours, during which they confiscated mobile phones and gathered the crew on deck before escaping with the three Chinese nationals.

She noted that a multi-agency effort between Ghanaian and Nigerian authorities has resulted in the apprehension of four suspects believed to have played key roles in the abduction. Investigations remain ongoing as law enforcement continues to trace other members of the criminal network behind the operation.