INTERPOL and AFRIPOL Joint Operation Nets Over 1,000 Arrests Across Africa
Lyon, France – November 26, 2024 – In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, INTERPOL and AFRIPOL have announced the arrest of 1,006 suspects and the dismantling of 134,089 malicious infrastructures and networks across 19 African countries. This joint effort, dubbed Operation Serengeti, ran from September 2 to October 31, targeting a range of cybercrimes including ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and online scams.
Operation Serengeti comes on the heels of the 2024 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report, which highlighted these cybercrimes as major threats. The operation identified more than 35,000 victims and linked cases to nearly USD 193 million in global financial losses. Intelligence from ongoing cases fed into 65 Cyber Analytical Reports, ensuring that actions on the ground were data-driven and focused on the most significant perpetrators.
The operation was bolstered by private sector partners, including Internet Service Providers, who shared intelligence, supported analysis, and helped disrupt criminal activities. These partners provided both on-site and remote assistance to patch vulnerabilities and secure critical infrastructure in the participating countries.
Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL, emphasized the operation’s impact, stating, “From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern. Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together, and these arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from real personal and financial pain. We know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will continue targeting these criminal groups worldwide.”
Ambassador Jalel Chelba, AFRIPOL’s Executive Director, added, “Through Serengeti, AFRIPOL has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States. We’ve facilitated key arrests and deepened insights into cybercrime trends. Our focus now includes emerging threats like AI-driven malware and advanced attack techniques.”
National Case Studies
In Kenya, authorities cracked an online credit card fraud case involving losses of USD 8.6 million. The funds were stolen through altered banking system security protocols and redistributed via SWIFT to companies in the UAE, Nigeria, and China, and eventually to digital asset institutions. Nearly two dozen arrests were made.
In Senegal, eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals, were arrested for a USD 6 million online Ponzi scheme affecting 1,811 victims. A search revealed over 900 SIM cards, USD 11,000 in cash, phones, laptops, and copies of victims’ ID cards.
Nigerian authorities arrested a man accused of running online investment scams, netting upwards of USD 300,000 by luring victims with false promises of cryptocurrency returns.
In Cameroon, a group was arrested for trafficking victims from seven countries to run a multi-level marketing scam. Victims, after paying a “membership fee,” were promised employment or training but were instead held captive and forced to recruit others. The group had already amassed at least USD 150,000 in fees.
Angolan investigators dismantled an international group running a virtual casino in Luanda, targeting Brazilian and Nigerian gamblers. The operation defrauded hundreds, promising a percentage of winnings to members who recruited new subscribers. Officers made 150 arrests, seizing 200 computers and over 100 mobile phones.
Participating Countries
The countries involved in Operation Serengeti include Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Operational Partners
Key operational partners in the operation included Cybercrime Atlas, Fortinet, Group-IB, Kaspersky, Team Cymru, Trend Micro, and Uppsala Security. Funding was provided by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the Council of Europe.
Operation Serengeti demonstrates the power of international collaboration in combating cybercrime, offering a model for future efforts to tackle the growing and evolving threat of cybercriminal activities worldwide.
