Interpol Arrests Over 1,000 Cybercrime Suspects Across Africa During Major Operation

Interpol has reported the arrest of more than 1,000 cybercrime suspects across 19 African nations during a large-scale crackdown known as Operation Serengeti, conducted between September and October 2024. The operation, carried out in collaboration with Afripol, targeted various forms of cybercriminal activity, including ransomware, online scams, phishing, digital extortion, and human trafficking linked to cyber fraud.

The investigation revealed over 35,000 victims and tied these criminal activities to an estimated $193 million in global financial losses. Countries involved in the operation included Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Tunisia, and others.

Key Arrests:

Kenya: Authorities detained nearly two dozen individuals implicated in credit card fraud schemes amounting to $8.6 million.

Senegal: Eight suspects, including five Chinese nationals, were arrested for operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded over 1,800 victims.

Nigeria: A suspect was apprehended for orchestrating cryptocurrency scams yielding more than $300,000 in illicit profits.

Cameroon: Officials disrupted a human trafficking ring exploiting individuals from seven countries, forcing them into multilevel marketing scams under duress.

Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasized the growing complexity of cybercrime and the importance of global collaboration to combat these threats. “From multilevel marketing scams to sophisticated credit card fraud, the operation highlights the scale of cybercrime and its devastating impact,” Urquiza noted.

The operation also shed light on how trafficking victims are coerced into participating in fraudulent schemes, often under abusive conditions. A U.N. report revealed that many victims face psychological and physical abuse while being forced to work in scam networks.

This operation underscores the persistent global challenge of cybercrime, which causes financial losses estimated in the trillions. Interpol vowed to continue efforts to dismantle these criminal networks and strengthen international cooperation.