Interpol has reported the arrest of more than 1,000 individuals suspected of cybercrimes across 19 African nations as part of Operation Serengeti, conducted between September and October. This extensive operation, led in collaboration with Afripol, targeted a range of cybercriminal activities including ransomware attacks, digital extortion, online scams, and phishing.
The operation uncovered over 35,000 victims and was linked to an estimated $193 million in global financial losses. The 19 participating countries included Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Valdecy Urquiza, Interpol’s secretary general, highlighted the urgency of addressing cybercrime. “From multilevel marketing scams to large-scale credit card fraud, the growing volume and sophistication of cybercrime is a serious concern,” he stated.
Among the key arrests was a group of nearly two dozen individuals in Kenya involved in $8.6 million worth of credit card fraud. In Senegal, eight suspects, including five Chinese nationals, were detained for operating an online Ponzi scheme that defrauded over 1,800 victims. In Nigeria, a suspect was arrested for orchestrating cryptocurrency investment scams that generated more than $300,000 in profits.
In Cameroon, authorities disrupted a human trafficking ring exploiting victims from seven countries. These individuals were lured with false job offers, held captive, and forced to take part in multilevel marketing scams with the promise of eventual freedom.
A recent U.N. report noted that many individuals involved in scam operations are trafficking victims who endure physical and psychological abuse. Earlier this month, Interpol revealed further cases where victims were coerced into participating in pyramid schemes under abusive conditions.
Cybercrime continues to be a significant global challenge, with estimated financial losses in the hundreds of millions to trillions of dollars. The World Cybercrime Index lists Russia, Ukraine, China, the United States, and Nigeria as major sources of cybercriminal activity. Some cybercrimes, such as AI-driven impersonation and romance scams, have even led to fatalities.
Urquiza praised the international cooperation that made Operation Serengeti possible, saying, “Operation Serengeti demonstrates the strength of international collaboration. This is only the beginning, and we remain committed to dismantling these criminal networks worldwide.”
