Interpol Leads Major Cybercrime Bust in Africa: 1,209 Arrests and $97 Million Recovered

A major international operation coordinated by Interpol has resulted in significant arrests and asset recoveries across Africa.

Known as Operation Serengeti 2.0, the effort spanned from June to August 2025 and involved law enforcement from 18 African nations along with the United Kingdom.

The operation focused on combating various forms of cybercrime that have impacted thousands of individuals worldwide.

Authorities arrested 1,209 suspects during the operation and recovered approximately $97.4 million in illicit funds.

Nearly 88,000 victims were identified as targets of these schemes, with investigators dismantling 11,432 malicious infrastructures used in the crimes.

These actions highlight the extensive reach of organized cybercriminal networks operating in the region.

The crimes targeted included inheritance scams, ransomware attacks, and business email compromise operations. Inheritance scams, despite being among the oldest online frauds, continue to generate substantial revenue for criminal groups.

Ransomware and email compromises have been identified as rising threats in Africa, according to Interpol’s assessments.

In Angola, law enforcement shut down 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining facilities run by 60 Chinese nationals.

Equipment valued at over $37 million was seized, and the government intends to repurpose it for electricity distribution in underserved communities.

This action addressed unauthorized blockchain activities that strained local resources.

Zambian authorities disrupted a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme that defrauded more than 65,000 victims of an estimated $300 million.

The scammers used aggressive advertising to lure investors into downloading apps for supposed high-yield returns, leading to 15 arrests and the seizure of domains, phone numbers, and bank accounts.

The investigation also uncovered a potential human trafficking ring and confiscated 372 forged passports from multiple countries.

In Côte d’Ivoire, officials dismantled a cross-border inheritance scam that originated in Germany and caused $1.6 million in losses to victims. The primary suspect was arrested, with assets such as electronics, jewelry, cash, vehicles, and documents recovered.

The operation received support from private sector partners including Kaspersky, Group-IB, Fortinet, and others, enhancing investigative capabilities.

Funding came from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, under the framework of the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime.

Pre-operation workshops trained investigators in tools for open-source intelligence, cryptocurrency tracking, and ransomware analysis.

This follows the inaugural Operation Serengeti in 2024, which led to over 1,000 arrests and assisted 35,000 victims.

Each successive effort builds on prior successes by improving information sharing and skills among participants.

Interpol’s Secretary General noted that growing contributions strengthen global networks and deliver tangible results for victims.

Participating countries included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The operation underscores the importance of international collaboration in tackling cybercrimes that cross borders. Such initiatives aim to protect vulnerable populations from evolving digital threats.

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