Interpol Arrests 1,200 Cybercriminals Across 18 African Countries, Seizes Nearly $100M

Interpol coordinated Operation Serengeti 2.0, a major international crackdown on cybercrime across 18 African countries and the UK, resulting in over 1,200 arrests and the recovery of nearly $97.4 million stolen from about 88,000 victims. The operation targeted various cybercrimes including cryptocurrency scams, ransomware, inheritance scams, and business email compromises, with significant actions in Angola and Zambia. In Angola, authorities dismantled 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining centers operated by Chinese nationals, seizing mining equipment and illicit power stations valued at over $37 million, which will be repurposed to support power distribution in underserved areas. Zambian law enforcement disrupted a large-scale online investment fraud that defrauded 65,000 people of approximately $300 million, arresting suspects and confiscating digital assets and communication tools linked to the scheme. The crackdown also led to the disruption of a human trafficking network in Zambia with the seizure of hundreds of forged passports. Interpol emphasized that these operations build on previous efforts by enhancing cooperation, information sharing, and investigative skills, highlighting the growing scale and impact of cybercrime in Africa and the critical need for cross-border collaboration to safeguard victims.