INTERPOL on Friday introduced that authorities from 18 international locations throughout Africa have arrested 1,209 cybercriminals who focused 88,000 victims.
“The crackdown recovered $97.4 million and dismantled 11,432 malicious infrastructures, underscoring the worldwide attain of cybercrime and the pressing want for cross-border cooperation,” the company mentioned.
The trouble is the second part of an ongoing legislation enforcement initiative referred to as Operation Serengeti, which occurred between June and August 2025 to deal with extreme crimes like ransomware, on-line scams. and enterprise e-mail compromise (BEC). The primary wave of arrests occurred late final 12 months.
Among the many highlights are the dismantling of 25 cryptocurrency mining centres in Angola, the place 60 Chinese language nationals had been concerned within the illicit money-making scheme.
“The crackdown recognized 45 illicit energy stations which had been confiscated, together with mining and IT tools value greater than $37 million, now earmarked by the federal government to help energy distribution in susceptible areas,” INTERPOL mentioned.
Elsewhere, Zambian authorities have taken down a large-scale on-line funding fraud operation that claimed 65,000 victims who misplaced round $300 million after they had been lured into investing in cryptocurrency by means of promoting campaigns that promised high-yield returns.
Fifteen people have been arrested in reference to the scheme, with officers seizing domains, cell numbers, and financial institution accounts for additional investigation. Additionally disrupted within the southern African nation is a rip-off heart and a suspected human trafficking community.
Lastly, legislation enforcement additionally tore down a transnational inheritance rip-off originating in Germany, arresting the first suspect and confiscating electronics, jewelry, money, and autos. The rip-off is estimated to have triggered losses of round $1.6 million.
“Every INTERPOL-coordinated operation builds on the final, deepening cooperation, rising data sharing and creating investigative expertise throughout member international locations,” Valdecy Urquiza, secretary normal of INTERPOL, mentioned. “With extra contributions and shared experience, the outcomes continue to grow in scale and influence. This international community is stronger than ever, delivering actual outcomes and safeguarding victims.”
Singapore-headquartered Group-IB mentioned it supplied “circumstantial intelligence” on a cryptocurrency funding rip-off, together with infrastructural particulars related to the rip-off and different BEC campaigns throughout the African area.
“Cybercrime acknowledges no borders, and its influence is actually international,” Dmitry Volkov, Group-IB CEO, mentioned. “The success of Operation Serengeti 2.0 demonstrates what will be achieved when nations stand collectively in opposition to this risk.”
In a publish shared on LinkedIn, blockchain intelligence platform TRM Labs mentioned investigators pursued leads tied to the Bl00dy ransomware group in Ghana and acted on data related to RansomHub, one other ransomware operation that abruptly went offline earlier this April.
Nations that participated within the crackdown embody Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania, the UK, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The disclosure comes as Nigeria deported 102 overseas nationals, together with 60 Chinese language and 39 individuals from the Philippines, who had been convicted of cyber terrorism and web fraud, in response to the nation’s Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC). The deportees had been amongst 792 suspected cybercriminals arrested in December 2024.
Earlier this March, legislation enforcement authorities in seven African international locations additionally arrested 306 suspects and confiscated 1,842 gadgets as a part of a global operation codenamed Crimson Card that occurred between November 2024 and February 2025.
