S
M
Interpol’s Operation Serengeti has led to the arrest of more than 1,000 individuals involved in cybercrime across 19 African countries, exposing $193 million in global financial losses and over 35,000 victims.
The operation, conducted between September and October 2024, targeted activities such as ransomware, digital extortion, online scams, and phishing schemes. Led by Interpol in collaboration with Afripol, it spanned nations including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Notable arrests included 24 suspects in Kenya linked to $8.6 million in credit card fraud, and eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals, in Senegal for running an online Ponzi scheme that defrauded over 1,800 victims. In Nigeria, a man accused of orchestrating cryptocurrency scams worth over $300,000 was apprehended.
Authorities in Cameroon also disrupted a human trafficking ring exploiting victims from seven countries. Traffickers used false job offers to lure victims, who were then coerced into multilevel marketing scams under abusive conditions.
Valdecy Urquiza, Interpol’s secretary general, emphasized the global impact of cybercrime:
“From credit card fraud to multilevel marketing scams, the growing sophistication of cybercrime poses a significant threat.”
A U.N. report highlights the link between scam operations and human trafficking, with victims often subjected to physical and psychological abuse. Interpol recently identified more cases of trafficked individuals forced into fraudulent activities across Africa.
Operation Serengeti underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime. “This is just the beginning,” Urquiza said, pledging continued efforts to dismantle criminal networks globally.