Interpol Cracks Operation Serengeti Targets Cybercrime Across 19 African Nations
Interpol Cracks , in collaboration with Afripol, the African Union’s police agency, concluded a major two-month operation against cybercrime, arresting 1,006 suspects across 19 African countries. Named Operation Serengeti, the initiative, which ran from September 2 to October 31, targeted a range of cybercrimes, including ransomware attacks, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and online scams. The operation identified 35,000 victims worldwide and uncovered nearly $193 million in financial losses, according to Interpol’s statement released Tuesday.
The crackdown addressed crimes of increasing sophistication, from multi-level marketing fraud to industrial-scale credit card schemes. Valdecy Urquiza, Interpol’s Secretary General, highlighted the growing complexity and volume of such attacks, calling them “a serious concern.” Local law enforcement agencies and private-sector partners, such as internet service providers, were instrumental in enabling Serengeti’s success, Interpol noted.
Jalel Chelba, Afripol’s Executive Director, emphasized the operation’s importance, stating that it significantly boosted law enforcement capabilities across African Union member states.
Major Arrests and Financial Impacts
Serengeti yielded significant results compared to past operations. In Kenya, nearly two dozen suspects were arrested in a major credit card fraud case linked to $8.6 million in losses. Senegalese authorities dismantled a $6 million online Ponzi scheme, arresting eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals. Other notable arrests included a group in Cameroon involved in human trafficking through multi-level marketing scams, and a criminal ring in Angola operating an illegal virtual casino.
In Nigeria, authorities took down a cryptocurrency investment scam, further showcasing the operation’s reach. Enrique Hernandez Gonzalez, Interpol’s Assistant Director of Cybercrime Operations, described Serengeti as a milestone, noting a drastic increase in results compared to previous years. Interpol’s earlier efforts in Africa had led to just 25 arrests in two years.
“Significant progress has been made, with participating countries improving their ability to act on intelligence and produce meaningful outcomes,” Gonzalez said.
Adapting to Emerging Threats in Cybercrime
Interpol Cracks operation also marked a shift in focus toward addressing emerging threats such as AI-driven malware and advanced cyberattack techniques. Chelba noted Afripol’s growing commitment to tackling these evolving challenges, signaling a proactive stance against increasingly complex criminal methods.
As the world’s largest policing organization, with 196 member countries, Interpol continues to grapple with the rapid rise in cybercrime. Despite a budget of approximately $188 million last year—significantly smaller than Europol’s $200 million or the FBI’s $11 billion—Interpol remains a critical force in combating global threats. Its collaborative efforts in Operation Serengeti underscore its vital role in bridging law enforcement capabilities across nations.
The success of Serengeti serves as a testament to the power of international cooperation in addressing cybercrime and its devastating financial and human impacts.
