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LYON, France—Empowering law enforcement and partners to disrupt cybercrime networks
LYON, France—Authorities in 19 African countries arrested 1,006 suspects and dismantled 134,089 malicious infrastructure and networks in a joint INTERPOL and Afripol operation to combat cybercrime.
Operation Serengeti (September 2–October 31) targeted criminals behind ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and cyber fraud—all of which are prominent threats identified in the 2024 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment.
Over 35,000 victims were identified during the operation, resulting in nearly $193 million in economic losses globally.
Information provided to INTERPOL by participating countries on ongoing cases was consolidated into 65 cyber analysis reports to ensure that field operations were intelligence-led and focused on the most significant actors.
Operation Serengeti Achievements
Private sector partners, including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), also played a vital role by sharing intelligence, supporting analysis, and combating criminal activity. They provided on-site support and offered 24/7 remote assistance to patch vulnerabilities and protect critical infrastructure in participating Member States.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdés Urquiza said:
From multi-level marketing scams to industrial-scale credit card fraud, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercriminal attacks is a cause for serious concern.
Operation Serengeti demonstrates what can be achieved when we work together. These arrests alone will save countless potential victims from real human and financial loss. We know this is just the tip of the iceberg, and we will continue to fight these criminal groups worldwide.
Country Case Studies
In Kenya, police disrupted an online credit card fraud operation resulting in losses of $8.6 million. The funds were stolen through fraudulent scripts that compromised banking security protocols. The gang then redistributed the funds via SWIFT to companies in the UAE, Nigeria, and China, and subsequently to... Digital asset institutions regulated in multiple jurisdictions that provide trading and financial services. Nearly twenty people have been arrested so far.
Senegalese police arrested eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals, in connection with a $6 million online Ponzi scheme that victimized 1,811 people. A search of their apartment revealed over 900 SIM cards, $11,000 in cash, multiple mobile phones, laptops, and copies of victims' ID cards.
Nigerian authorities arrested a man suspected of operating an online investment scam. He is believed to have lured victims through text messaging platforms with false promises of cryptocurrency returns, raking in over $300,000.
