Interpol has arrested 1,006 suspects in a sweeping operation across Africa targeting cybercriminals behind massive financial and human losses.
Operation Serengeti, conducted from September 2 to October 31, spanned 19 African nations and dismantled networks responsible for ransomware, online scams, and digital extortion. Tens of thousands of victims were identified, with global financial damages nearing $193 million.
“This operation highlights the growing sophistication of cybercriminals and the need for coordinated responses,” said Valdecy Urquiza, Interpol’s Secretary General.
Afripol, the African Union’s police agency, played a central role, with its Executive Director Jalel Chelba emphasizing Serengeti’s impact on law enforcement capacity in African Union member states.
The operation’s results were unprecedented, marking a significant leap from previous years. Interpol’s cybercrime operations in Africa had led to only 25 arrests over the past two years.
In Kenya, authorities arrested nearly two dozen suspects in a credit card fraud scheme causing $8.6 million in losses. Senegal’s police detained eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals, for operating a $6 million Ponzi scheme.
Dismantled networks included human traffickers in Cameroon, a cryptocurrency scam in Nigeria, and an illegal virtual casino in Angola.
Emerging threats like AI-driven malware and advanced cyberattack methods are now a key focus for Afripol and Interpol.
“This is a turning point for Africa in addressing cybercrime,” said Enrique Hernandez Gonzalez, Interpol’s Assistant Director of Cybercrime Operations.
As cybercrime evolves, Interpol continues its mission to enhance global cooperation, despite operating on a budget significantly smaller than other major policing agencies like the FBI or Europol.
Operation Serengeti underscores the critical need for international collaboration to combat the growing cybercrime menace.
