Abuja, Nigeria – A major international police operation coordinated by Interpol has resulted in the arrest of 1,209 suspects across Africa and the recovery of nearly $97.4 million from cybercrime activities. The initiative, codenamed Operation Serengeti 2.0, was conducted between June and August, bringing together law enforcement agencies from 18 African nations and the United Kingdom.
The crackdown targeted a range of cybercrimes, including business email compromise, ransomware attacks, and various online scams that collectively victimized nearly 88,000 people.
In one significant development, authorities in Angola dismantled 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining operations and arrested 60 Chinese nationals. The operation led to the seizure of over $37 million worth of equipment, which the Angolan government plans to repurpose to support power distribution in vulnerable communities.
Meanwhile, in Zambia, investigators took down a fraudulent online investment scheme that had defrauded over 65,000 victims of an estimated $300 million. Interpol reported that the scammers used extensive advertising campaigns to lure victims with promises of high-yield returns from cryptocurrency investments. The bust also led to the disruption of a suspected human trafficking network.
Another case in the Ivory Coast saw the dismantling of a transnational inheritance scam that had originated in Germany. The scam, which tricked victims into paying fees for fake inheritances, resulted in an estimated $1.6 million in losses. Interpol highlighted that despite being a long-running form of fraud, such scams continue to generate significant funds for criminal organizations.
This year’s operation builds on the success of the first Operation Serengeti, conducted in 2024, which led to the arrest of over 1,000 people and targeted 35,000 victims.
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