"1,200 arrested in Africa's cybercrime takedown: A $97M shift from fraud to justice"

More than 1,200 individuals were arrested across Africa in a major cybercrime crackdown coordinated by Interpol, the organization announced in a recent statement. The operation, referred to as "Serengeti 2.0," took place over a three-month period from June to August 2025 and involved investigators from 18 African countries and the United Kingdom. The campaign targeted cybercriminals engaged in fraudulent schemes, including ransomware, business email compromise, and cryptocurrency-related offenses. As part of the operation, over $97.4 million in assets was recovered, and 11,432 malicious online infrastructures were dismantled [1].

Cybercrime is increasingly becoming a dominant criminal activity in parts of Africa, accounting for more than 30% of all reported crimes in West and East Africa, according to Interpol. The agency emphasized that the rise in cyber-enabled fraud has had a widespread impact, with nearly 88,000 victims identified across the continent. In Zambia alone, a fraudulent investment scheme defrauded over 65,000 individuals of an estimated $300 million. The scheme, which promised high-yield returns on cryptocurrency investments, was broken up by local authorities who also uncovered a suspected human trafficking network associated with the operation [2].

In Angola, authorities targeted a major cryptocurrency mining operation involving 25 illegal mining centers. The investigation led to the seizure of mining equipment valued at over $37 million, which the Angolan government has stated will be repurposed to support power distribution in underserved communities. The operation also resulted in the arrest of 60 Chinese nationals linked to the centers. Meanwhile, in the Ivory Coast, investigators dismantled a transnational inheritance scam that defrauded victims of approximately $1.6 million by convincing them to pay fees for fake inheritances [1].

Interpol highlighted the importance of international collaboration in the success of the operation, which was funded in part by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. According to INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, the results of Serengeti 2.0 underscore the growing strength of global law enforcement networks. “Each operation builds on the last, deepening cooperation and increasing investigative capacity,” he said. The initiative has been framed as a model for future anti-cybercrime efforts in the region, given the cross-border nature of many digital fraud operations [2].

The crackdown also serves as a reminder of the evolving tactics used by cybercriminals, including the repurposing of legitimate financial tools for fraudulent schemes. In Zambia, for instance, scammers leveraged mobile apps and aggressive advertising to lure victims into fake investment opportunities. As digital adoption continues to rise across the continent, the ability of law enforcement agencies to coordinate and share intelligence will play a critical role in mitigating future threats [1].

Source:

[1] Interpol Arrests Over 1200 in African Cybercrime Crackdown (https://www.dw.com/en/interpol-arrests-over-1200-in-african-cybercrime-crackdown/a-73736645)

[2] INTERPOL Targets African Crime Syndicates, Arrests 1,209 Suspects and Recovers Over $90 Million (https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/interpol-targets-african-crime-syndicates-arrests-1209-suspects-and-recovers-over/1wb7vzq)