The International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, has arrested 1,462 suspects, disrupted 10,909 malicious networks and recovered $105 million in illicit funds in Nigeria and other African countries in two months.
Codenamed “Operation Serengeti III,” the INTERPOL said in collaboration with local authorities in Nigeria, Uganda, Angola and other African countries between June 29 and August 31, 2026, thousands of malicious cyber networks, cryptocurrency fraudsters were dismantled.
It stated, “In Nigeria, authorities arrested a suspect behind a large-scale phishing and business email compromise operation that harvested software credentials and amassed approximately 2.1 million email addresses. Investigators also recovered a luxury vehicle suspected to have been purchased with criminal proceeds.
“A separate Nigerian investigation targeted an international investment fraud scheme promoted via messaging apps, leading to the arrest of a suspect. Financial investigations revealed the movement of more than USD 2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds, much of which was laundered through cryptocurrency transactions.”
According to the INTERPOL, Operation Serengeti III is one of Africa’s largest cybercrime enforcement operations that saw law enforcement agencies from 21 countries collaborated to execute the operations.
The INTERPOL added, “In Uganda, authorities dismantled two transnational fraud rings and arrested 365 foreign nationals linked to sophisticated online investment and pension fraud schemes targeting victims across Asia. Investigators uncovered a rotating call-centre model using scripted communications, fake trading platforms and fraudulent websites to deceive pensioners into investing in non-existent opportunities.
“In Angola, investigators dismantled two illegal cryptocurrency mining centres, arresting nine suspects and seizing more than 2,000 cryptocurrency mining devices alongside six illegal power transformation stations. The seized electrical infrastructure alone was valued at more than USD 1 million.”
The cybercrime crackdown also “dismantled a malicious mobile loan application scheme in Tanzania, disrupted a social media-based vehicle import fraud network in Gabon, and arrested 30 suspects linked to a cybercrime operation in the Republic of Congo.
INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime Neal Jetton said that cybercrime networks operated without regard for borders, exploiting technology to target victims on an unprecedented scale.
Mr Jetton added, “Operation Serengeti III reinforces a clear message: while cybercrime is increasingly borderless, international cooperation remains one of the most effective tools for disrupting criminal networks, recovering criminal assets and protecting communities from digital harm.”
Countries that participated in the INTERPOL’s Operation Serengeti III include: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
