INTERPOL Arrests 1,462 Nigerian fraudsters, Disrupts 10,909 Malicious Networks, Recovers $105 Million In Cybercrime Crackdown
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has arrested 1,462 suspects, disrupted 10,909 malicious networks and recovered $105 million in illicit funds during a two-month cybercr+me crackdown.
Codenamed Operation Serengeti III, the operation ran from June 29 to August 31, 2026, involving law enforcement agencies from 21 countries.
In Nigeria, authorities arrested a suspect linked to a phishing and business email compromise operation that harvested software credentials and amassed about 2.1 million email addresses. Investigators also recovered a luxury vehicle suspected to have been bought with cr+minal proceeds.
Another investigation targeted an international investment fr@ud scheme promoted through messaging apps. Investigators traced over $2.4 million in suspected cr+minal proceeds, much of it allegedly laundered through cryptocurrency transactions.
In Uganda, authorities dismantled two fr@ud rings and arrested 365 foreign nationals linked to online investment and pension fr@ud targeting victims across Asia.
In Angola, investigators dismantled two illegal cryptocurrency mining centres, arrested nine suspects and seized over 2,000 mining devices and six illegal power transformation stations valued at more than $1 million.
The operation also targeted a fraudulent mobile loan application scheme in Tanzania, a vehicle import fr@ud network in Gabon and cybercr+me suspects in the Republic of Congo.
INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime, Neal Jetton, said, “Operation Serengeti III reinforces a clear message: while cybercrime is increasingly borderless, international cooperation remains one of the most effective tools for disrupting cr+minal networks, recovering criminal assets and protecting communities from digital harm.”
Participating countries included Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, the United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Republic of Congo.
