Interpol-led African crackdown nets 1,462 suspects and targets crypto laundering
An Interpol-coordinated operation across 20 African countries and the United States led to 1,462 arrests and the recovery of more than $105 million, authorities said. Investigators dismantled 10,909 malicious networks and, in Nigeria, traced about $2.4 million from an investment fraud, with a significant portion allegedly laundered through cryptocurrency transactions. The campaign also led to arrests in Uganda and the seizure of more than 2,000 mining devices in Angola.
Operation Serengeti III ran from late June through August across 20 African nations and the United States, with Interpol announcing results on 22 October. Authorities linked the investigated cybercrimes to more than $385 million in losses and 65,929 victims while recovering over $105 million and dismantling 10,909 malicious networks.
In Nigeria, investigators traced about $2.4 million from an international investment scam run partly through messaging apps; one suspect was arrested, and much of the money allegedly moved through crypto transactions. Uganda saw 365 foreign nationals arrested over two suspected transnational fraud networks, while Angola yielded over 2,000 seized mining devices and two illegal mining centers.
The crackdown may reassure people targeted by online investment fraud and crypto-linked scams, especially in countries where cross-border cases are hard to pursue. It could also prompt exchanges, payment providers, and mining operators to tighten checks, potentially raising costs or friction for legitimate users. Because the operation relied on tracing digital flows and seizing equipment, its broader effect may depend on follow-up prosecutions and whether victims recover funds.