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A major international cybercrime operation has led to the arrest of more than 1,200 suspects across Africa, with millions recovered from criminal networks running large-scale fraud and online scams.
The INTERPOL-coordinated sweep, codenamed Operation Serengeti 2.0, ran from June to August 2025 and brought together investigators from 18 African nations alongside the United Kingdom. In total, authorities recovered USD 97.4m (£76.7m), dismantled over 11,000 malicious infrastructures and targeted crimes ranging from ransomware to business email compromise (BEC).
The operation followed warnings from INTERPOL’s Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, which highlighted the region’s exposure to high-impact online threats.
Large-Scale Fraud and Crypto Crackdowns
Authorities in Angola shut down 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining centres run by 60 Chinese nationals. The crackdown uncovered 45 illicit power stations and equipment worth more than USD 37m, now earmarked by the government to bolster electricity distribution in vulnerable communities.
In Zambia, police dismantled an investment fraud scheme that tricked some 65,000 victims into investing in bogus cryptocurrency ventures. Losses are estimated at USD 300m. Investigators seized domains, mobile numbers and bank accounts, while 15 arrests were made. In a separate case, Zambian authorities uncovered a scam centre linked to human trafficking, seizing 372 forged passports.
Meanwhile, officers in Côte d’Ivoire arrested the ringleader of a transnational inheritance scam operating out of Germany. The fraud, which duped victims into paying fees to claim fictitious inheritances, caused losses of around USD 1.6m. Items seized included electronics, jewellery, vehicles and cash.
Training, Intelligence Sharing and Prevention
The operation was bolstered by intelligence from private sector partners including Kaspersky, Trend Micro and TRM Labs, who provided data on suspicious IPs, domains and command-and-control servers. Ahead of the crackdown, investigators also underwent intensive training in cryptocurrency tracing, open-source intelligence and ransomware analysis.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:
“Each INTERPOL-coordinated operation builds on the last, deepening cooperation, increasing information sharing and developing investigative skills across member countries. With more contributions and shared expertise, the results keep growing in scale and impact.”
The initiative also linked with the International Cyber Offender Prevention Network (InterCOP), a consortium of 36 countries led by the Netherlands, which works to detect and deter cybercriminal activity before it escalates.
Global Cooperation
Operation Serengeti 2.0 formed part of the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime, supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Participating countries included Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, alongside European partners.
The results highlight both the scale of cybercrime across Africa and the growing effectiveness of cross-border policing. Authorities say further arrests and asset seizures are likely as investigations continue into international collaborators.
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