In a groundbreaking joint operation between Interpol and Afripol, law enforcement agencies across 19 African countries executed one of the continent’s largest cybercrime takedowns. The two-month operation, conducted during September and October, resulted in the arrest of 1,006 suspects and the recovery of $44 million from an identified $193 million in losses.

The operation successfully dismantled over 134,000 malicious infrastructures and identified more than 35,000 victims. Several significant regional breakthroughs included Kenya’s exposure of an $8.6 million credit card fraud scheme targeting UAE, Nigeria, and China, and Senegal’s dismantling of a $6 million Ponzi scheme. In Nigeria, authorities arrested a cryptocurrency scammer responsible for $300,000 in theft, while Cameroon disrupted an international trafficking ring using multi-level marketing schemes. Angola’s efforts led to 150 arrests in connection with a virtual casino fraud operation.

The comprehensive operation targeted multiple cybercrime categories, including ransomware, Business Email Compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and various online scams. Technical support and intelligence were provided by leading cybersecurity firms, including Cybercrime Atlas, Fortinet, Group-IB, Kaspersky, Team Cymru, Trend Micro, and Uppsala Security.

This unprecedented operation marks a significant milestone in Africa’s fight against cybercrime, showcasing enhanced international cooperation in combating digital threats.