Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, arrested over 1,000 individuals in Africa this month in connection to a widespread cybercrime operation, the agency said.
The Cybercrime Operation
Operation Serengeti, a collaborative effort between Interpol and Afripol, the African Union's police agency, spanned 19 African nations from September 2 to October 31. The initiative targeted cybercriminals involved in ransomware attacks, business email compromise schemes, digital extortion and online scams, according to a statement from Interpol.
In total, Interpol arrested 1,006 suspects during the operation.
"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," Valdecy Urquiza, the Secretary General of Interpol, said in the statement.
Interpol identified 35,000 victims connected to cases accounting for nearly $193 million in global financial losses. The agency credited the operation's success to the involvement of local police forces and private sector partners, including internet service providers.
In a statement, Afripol's Executive Director, Jalel Chelba said, "Through Serengeti, Afripol has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States."
Where the Arrests Were Made
In Kenya, authorities arrested nearly two dozen suspects connected to an online credit card fraud operation that caused $8.6 million in losses. In Senegal, law enforcement detained eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals, in connection with a $6 million online Ponzi scheme.
Afripol is now prioritizing emerging cyber threats, including AI-driven malware and sophisticated attack methods, according to Chelba.
The operation also targeted a range of criminal networks, including a group in Cameroon allegedly using a multi-level marketing scheme to facilitate human trafficking, an international syndicate in Angola operating an illegal virtual casino and a cryptocurrency investment scam based in Nigeria, according to Interpol.
Similar Operations
The outcomes of Operation Serengeti represent a "drastic increase" compared to previous anti-cybercrime efforts in Africa, Enrique Hernandez Gonzalez, Interpol's Assistant Director of Cybercrime Operations, told The Associated Press.
Over the past two years, Interpol's earlier cybercrime operations in Africa resulted in just 25 arrests, underscoring the significant impact of Operation Serengeti.
"Significant progress has been made, with participating countries enhancing their ability to work with intelligence and produce meaningful results," Gonzalez said.
Celebrating its centennial last year, Interpol facilitates communication and coordination among its 196 member countries to track suspects and combat crimes ranging from counterterrorism and financial fraud to child exploitation, cybercrime and organized crime.
As the world's largest police organization, Interpol faces mounting challenges, including a rising volume of cybercrime and child exploitation cases, along with growing political divisions among its 196 member nations.
Last year, Interpol operated on a budget of approximately 176 million euros ($188 million), significantly less than the over 200 million euros allocated to Europol, the European Union's police agency and the roughly $11 billion budget of the FBI in the United States.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
English (US) ·