Interpol-Led Operation Leads to Arrests of More Than 1,200 Suspected Cybercriminals in Africa
In Angola, 25 crypto mining centers manned by 60 Chinese nationals were among the malicious infrastructures dismantled, Interpol stated.
Investigators from 18 African countries and the UK took part in the crackdown, dubbed Operation Serengeti 2.0, that lasted from June to August. Authorities tackled cybercrimes, including ransomware, online scams, business email compromise, and inheritance scams, recovering $97.4 million.
A total of 87,858 individuals fell victim to these cybercrimes, according to Interpol.
In Angola, Interpol stated, local authorities dismantled 25 cryptocurrency mining centers in which 60 Chinese nationals were “illegally validating blockchain transactions to generate cryptocurrency.”
Authorities also confiscated 45 illegal power stations, as well as mining and IT equipment valued at more than $37 million, which the Angolan government has allocated to vulnerable areas for supporting power distribution.
In Zambia, local authorities dismantled a large-scale online investment scheme that defrauded about 65,000 victims of an estimated $300 million through a cryptocurrency scam, according to Interpol.
“The scammers lured victims into investing in cryptocurrency through extensive advertising campaigns promising high-yield returns,“ Interpol stated, noting that 15 individuals connected to the scam had been arrested. ”Victims were then instructed to download multiple apps to participate.”.
Evidence, including domains, mobile numbers, and bank accounts tied to the scam, was also seized.
Zambian authorities also located a scam center, disrupted a suspected human trafficking network, and confiscated 372 fake passports from seven countries.
In the Ivory Coast, Interpol stated, a transnational inheritance scam that originated in Germany was dismantled. In this scam, victims had been tricked into paying a total of about $1.6 million to claim fake inheritances.
“Despite being one of the oldest-running internet frauds, inheritance scams continue to generate significant funds for criminal organizations,” Interpol said.
Interpol said the crackdown was supported by the private sector and several security organizations, including Fortinet, Group-IB, and TRM Labs.
“In Ghana, investigators pursued leads tied to the Bl00dy ransomware group, a Conti spin-off that has targeted education, healthcare, and public sector victims worldwide,” TRM Labs wrote. “Analysis suggested that elements of Bl00dy’s laundering infrastructure were active in the country, pointing to an affiliate or operator on the ground.”
TRM Labs stated that investigators in Seychelles acted on intelligence connected to the RansomHub ransomware group, leading to a wider range of targets and the dismantling of additional criminal infrastructure.
African countries involved in the crackdown have included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, the Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Valdecy Urquiza, secretary-general of Interpol, emphasized the importance of governments and partners working together.
The 2024 operation identified more than 35,000 victims tied to nearly $193 million in financial losses worldwide.
Eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals, were arrested in Senegal in the 2024 operation for an online Ponzi scheme worth $6 million affecting 1,811 victims, according to Interpol.
