INTERPOL ARRESTS 1,462 SUSPECTS, RECOVERS OVER $105 MILLION IN AFRICAN CYBERCRIME CRACKDOWN

By NaijaParrot October 22, 2026 

LYON, FRANCE — The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has announced the arrest of 1,462 suspects and the recovery of more than $105 million in illicit funds following a major cybercrime operation targeting criminal networks across Africa. The operation, known as Operation Serengeti III, involved law enforcement agencies from 21 countries and was conducted between June 29 and August 31, 2026. According to INTERPOL, the operation also disrupted 10,909 malicious networks and identified 65,929 victims targeted by cybercriminal groups. Investigations linked the criminal activities to financial losses exceeding $385 million.

The crackdown focused on several forms of online crime, including internet fraud, ransomware attacks, business email compromise, investment scams and digital extortion. Before the operation began, investigators from 20 African countries and the United States received intelligence on suspicious internet domains, IP addresses and digital infrastructure allegedly linked to criminal activities. INTERPOL said private-sector cybersecurity partners also supported the operation by providing technical intelligence and investigative assistance to help authorities identify suspects and disrupt criminal networks. 

 Uganda was among the countries where authorities recorded significant results during the operation. Investigators dismantled two transnational fraud networks and arrested 365 foreign nationals suspected of links to online investment and pension fraud schemes targeting victims across Asia. Authorities reportedly uncovered a rotating call-centre operation that used scripted conversations, fraudulent websites and fake trading platforms to persuade victims, including pensioners, to invest in non-existent opportunities. 

 In Angola, authorities dismantled two illegal cryptocurrency mining centres and arrested nine suspects. Investigators seized more than 2,000 cryptocurrency mining devices and six illegal electrical substations. The seized electrical infrastructure was valued at more than $1 million, according to reports on the operation.

 Nigeria was among the participating countries, with investigators arresting a suspect allegedly connected to a large-scale phishing and business email compromise operation. The investigation reportedly uncovered a scheme that harvested software credentials and collected approximately 2.1 million email addresses. In a separate Nigerian investigation, authorities traced more than $2.4 million in suspected proceeds linked to an international investment fraud scheme promoted through messaging applications. Much of the money was allegedly moved through cryptocurrency transactions. 

 INTERPOL’s announcement did not provide a complete country-by-country breakdown of the total arrests or recovered funds, so the overall figures should not be attributed to Nigeria alone. 

 INTERPOL Director of Cybercrime Neal Jetton said criminal networks exploit technology and operate across national borders, making cooperation between law enforcement agencies essential. The organization said Operation Serengeti III demonstrated the importance of sharing intelligence, investigating financial flows and working with private-sector partners to identify criminal infrastructure and recover illicit funds.

The results come amid growing concerns about the use of artificial intelligence and other digital tools to support increasingly sophisticated cybercrime operations across Africa. INTERPOL’s findings highlight the scale of the threat, with tens of thousands of victims identified and estimated financial losses running into hundreds of millions of dollars. 

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