Interpol Arrested 1,000+ Cybercriminals and Dismantled 130,000+ Malicious Networks

A joint operation by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL has led to the arrest of 1,006 suspects and the dismantling of 134,089 malicious infrastructures across 19 African countries.

The operation, codenamed Operation Serengeti, targeted cybercriminals involved in ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and online scams key threats identified in the 2024 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report.

Conducted between September 2 and October 31, the operation uncovered over 35,000 victims and financial losses amounting to nearly USD 193 million globally.

Intelligence gathered from participating countries informed the production of 65 Cyber Analytical Reports, enabling law enforcement to focus on high-priority targets.

Operation Serengeti

Private sector collaborators, including Internet Service Providers and cybersecurity firms such as Fortinet, Group-IB, and Kaspersky, played a critical role. They provided intelligence, on-site support, and round-the-clock remote assistance to patch vulnerabilities and secure critical infrastructure in member states.

“From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern. Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together.

These arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from real personal and financial pain.” INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasized the significance of the operation.

“Through Serengeti, AFRIPOL has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States. We’ve facilitated key arrests and deepened insights into cybercrime trends.

Our focus now includes emerging threats like AI-driven malware and advanced attack techniques.” Ambassador Jalel Chelba, AFRIPOL’s Executive Director, highlighted the operation’s impact.

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National Case Studies

The operation exposed a variety of sophisticated schemes across the continent:

• Kenya: Authorities uncovered an online credit card fraud case involving USD 8.6 million in stolen funds. The perpetrators used fraudulent scripts to bypass banking security protocols and redistributed the money via SWIFT to companies in the UAE, Nigeria, and China before transferring it to digital asset platforms. Nearly two dozen suspects were arrested.
• Senegal: Eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals, were arrested for orchestrating a USD 6 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded 1,811 victims. Investigators seized over 900 SIM cards, USD 11,000 in cash, phones, laptops, and victims’ ID cards during a raid.
• Nigeria: Authorities apprehended a man accused of running cryptocurrency investment scams that defrauded victims of over USD 300,000 through false promises of high returns.
• Cameroon: A group was detained for trafficking victims from seven countries into a multi-level marketing scam. Victims were lured with promises of employment but were instead held captive and forced to recruit others to gain their freedom. The scheme reportedly generated at least USD 150,000 in fees.
• Angola: Investigators dismantled an international criminal group operating a virtual casino targeting Brazilian and Nigerian gamblers. The group defrauded hundreds through its platform by offering commissions for recruiting new members. Authorities made 150 arrests and seized 200 computers and over 100 mobile phones.

Operation Serengeti was supported by funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the Council of Europe. Participating countries included Algeria, Ghana, South Africa, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, among others.

The operation underscores the growing threat posed by cybercrime across Africa and highlights the importance of international collaboration in combating these challenges.

While significant progress was made during Operation Serengeti, officials acknowledged that this represents only a fraction of global cybercrime activities.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Urquiza. “We will continue targeting these criminal groups worldwide.”

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