Isaac Kofi Oduro Boateng, popularly known as Kofi Boat, a Ghanaian businessman and associate of dancehall artist Shatta Wale, was arrested on June 13, 2025, in a joint operation conducted by Interpol and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Along with two other suspects, Kofi Boat was apprehended in connection with a $100 million fraud scheme involving Business Email Compromise (BEC) and romance scams. Another suspect remains at large and is being pursued by international law enforcement.
The accused appeared before a Magistrate Court on June 16, 2025, where they were remanded in police custody pending ongoing investigations. The US State Department has requested their extradition following an indictment issued by a district court in the Southern District of New York.
Operating from 2016 to 2023, the alleged syndicate reportedly targeted individuals and corporations, impersonating company officials and using spoofed email accounts to trick victims into authorizing wire transfers.
In addition to BEC scams, Kofi Boat and his accomplices allegedly conducted romance scams targeting elderly US citizens via dating platforms, texts, and emails, deceiving them into sending significant amounts of money.
The fraudsters also lured victims with false promises of business opportunities, securing approximately $100 million in wire transfers under false pretenses.
The US Embassy requested their provisional arrest from Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 13, 2024. The Minister of Interior, Honourable Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, signed the arrest warrant on March 18, 2025, authorizing their detention.
