More than 1,460 suspects arrested across 21 countries as investigators dismantle nearly 11,000 malicious networks.
Interpol has recovered more than 105 million US dollars in illicit funds and arrested 1,462 suspects in a coordinated cybercrime crackdown across 21 African countries, exposing criminal networks linked to financial losses exceeding 385 million US dollars.
The operation, conducted between June and August 2026 under the name Serengeti III, targeted online investment fraud, business email compromise, ransomware attacks and illegal cryptocurrency activities, according to the international policing organisation.
Investigators identified 65,929 victims and dismantled 10,909 malicious digital networks during the three-month campaign, which involved cooperation between national law enforcement agencies and international cybersecurity partners.
The recovered funds represent approximately 27 percent of the financial losses linked to the criminal activities identified during the operation, although Interpol has not specified how much of the money has been returned to victims.
The crackdown comes as African financial systems increasingly rely on digital payments, mobile banking and online investment platforms, creating additional channels for cross-border financial transactions and cyber-enabled fraud.
In Uganda, authorities dismantled two international fraud networks and arrested 365 foreign nationals suspected of operating online investment and pension scams targeting victims primarily in Asia.
Investigators found that the groups used rotating call centres and fraudulent trading platforms to solicit investments, with operations structured to reach victims across multiple jurisdictions.
The Ugandan arrests accounted for approximately one-quarter of all suspects detained during the continent-wide operation.
In Angola, police shut down two illegal cryptocurrency mining facilities, arrested nine suspects and confiscated more than 2,000 mining devices.
Authorities also seized six unauthorised electricity transformation stations valued at more than 1 million US dollars, highlighting the infrastructure used to support illegal cryptocurrency mining operations.
Nigeria was another focus of the investigation, with authorities identifying suspects involved in phishing attacks and business email compromise schemes.
One investigation uncovered operations involving compromised software credentials and the collection of approximately 2.1 million email addresses, which investigators linked to cyber-enabled fraud activities.
A separate Nigerian investigation dismantled an international investment fraud network associated with more than 2.4 million US dollars in criminal proceeds, much of which had been channelled through cryptocurrency transactions.
Business email compromise typically involves criminals gaining access to corporate email accounts or impersonating legitimate business contacts to redirect payments. Such schemes can affect companies engaged in international trade, procurement and financial services.
Elsewhere, authorities in Tanzania disrupted fraudulent mobile lending applications, while investigators in Gabon targeted social media-based vehicle import scams.
In the Republic of Congo, law enforcement agencies arrested 30 suspects linked to cybercrime operations.
The cases illustrate the range of financial fraud methods identified during the operation, from fraudulent investment platforms and compromised business communications to mobile applications and cryptocurrency transactions.
The operation also involved technical assistance and intelligence sharing from private cybersecurity companies and law enforcement partners in Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.
According to Interpol, the cooperation enabled investigators to trace financial transactions, identify suspects operating across national borders and examine digital infrastructure associated with criminal activities.
The operation forms part of broader international efforts to address cyber-enabled financial crime, which frequently involves victims, perpetrators, financial intermediaries and digital infrastructure located in different countries.
Cross-border investigations can require cooperation between financial intelligence units, telecommunications providers, cryptocurrency service providers and national police agencies to identify suspects and recover stolen funds.
Investigations connected to Serengeti III remain ongoing, with authorities continuing to analyse seized digital evidence, trace illicit financial flows and identify additional suspects.
Interpol has not disclosed a timetable for concluding the remaining investigations or indicated whether further arrests and asset recoveries are expected.
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