In a groundbreaking cybersecurity initiative spanning 19 African nations, INTERPOL’s Operation Serengeti (September-October 2024) achieved unprecedented success in dismantling criminal cyber operations.

The operation resulted in over 1,000 arrests and the elimination of more than 134,000 malicious infrastructure components, preventing potential losses of $193 million and protecting 35,000 potential victims.

Among the notable successes was the takedown of a $6 million Ponzi scheme in Senegal, leading to eight arrests, and the shutdown of an illegal virtual casino in Luanda that targeted Brazilian and Nigerian users.

The comprehensive operation addressed multiple cyber threats, including ransomware, Business Email Compromise (BEC), digital extortion, online scams, credit card fraud, and DDoS attacks. Technical support from Group-IB identified 10,000 DDoS attacks and 3,000 phishing domains, while Kaspersky provided crucial threat intelligence and malware analysis.

INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza noted that despite these significant achievements, they represent only a fraction of the broader cybercrime landscape, emphasizing the need for continued global cooperation in cybersecurity enforcement.

This operation highlights both the increasing sophistication of African cybercrime operations and the effectiveness of coordinated international law enforcement efforts in combating cyber threats.