Breaking News: Major INTERPOL Operation Serengeti Arrests 1,006 Criminals In 19 Countries

Major INTERPOL and AFRIPOL Cybercrime Operation Serengeti Nets 1,006 Suspects

Primary Category: Crimes & Criminals

Authors:
•  SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
•  Portions from INTERPOL

About This Article

Operation Serengeti: A Landmark Cybercrime Crackdown Across Africa: In a major collaborative effort, INTERPOL and AFRIPOL conducted Operation Serengeti from September to October 2024, resulting in the arrest of 1,006 suspects and the dismantling of 134,089 malicious infrastructures across 19 African countries. The operation targeted a range of cybercrimes, including ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and online scams, as identified in the 2024 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report.

The operation identified over 35,000 victims, with total financial losses linked to these crimes nearing $193 million globally. Key arrests included perpetrators of online investment scams, Ponzi schemes, credit card fraud, and human trafficking schemes tied to multi-level marketing scams. For example, Kenyan authorities uncovered a $8.6 million credit card fraud ring, while Cameroonian officials exposed a scheme that trafficked victims and forced them into recruiting others under false pretenses.

Private sector partners and cybersecurity firms played a vital role by providing intelligence, securing infrastructure, and aiding law enforcement. The operation demonstrates the power of international collaboration in disrupting cybercrime networks, with INTERPOL and AFRIPOL vowing to continue targeting these threats as they evolve.

Major INTERPOL and AFRIPOL Cybercrime Operation Serengeti Nets 1,006 Suspects

Empowering law enforcement and partners to disrupt cybercrime networks

Authorities across 19 African countries have arrested 1,006 suspects and dismantled 134,089 malicious infrastructures and networks thanks to a joint operation by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL against cybercrime.

Operation Serengeti (2 September – 31 October) targeted criminals behind ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion and online scams – all identified as prominent threats in the 2024 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report.

More than 35,000 victims were identified during the operation, with cases linked to nearly USD 193 million in financial losses worldwide.

Information provided by participating countries of ongoing cases with INTERPOL fed into 65 Cyber Analytical Reports that were produced to ensure actions on the ground were intelligence-led and focused on the most significant actors.

Private sector partners, including Internet Service Providers, also played a vital role by sharing intelligence, supporting analysis and disrupting criminal activities. They provided on-site support and offered round-the-clock remote assistance to patch vulnerabilities and secure critical infrastructure for the participating member countries.

Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL, said:

"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.

"Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together, and these arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from real personal and financial pain. We know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will continue targeting these criminal groups worldwide."

Ambassador Jalel Chelba, AFRIPOL's Executive Director said:

"Through Serengeti, AFRIPOL has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States. We've facilitated key arrests and deepened insights into cybercrime trends. Our focus now includes emerging threats like AI-driven malware and advanced attack techniques."

National case studies

In Kenya, officers cracked a case of online credit card fraud linked to losses of USD 8.6 million. The funds, stolen through fraudulent scripts run after altering the banking system's security protocol, were promptly redistributed by the group via SWIFT to companies in the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and China and subsequently, to digital asset institutions offering trading and financial services regulated in multiple jurisdictions. Nearly two dozen arrests have been made so far.

Eight people, including five Chinese nationals, were arrested in Senegal for a USD 6 million online Ponzi scheme affecting 1,811 victims. A search of their apartment uncovered over 900 SIM cards, USD 11,000 in cash, phones, laptops, and copies of victims' ID cards.

Nigerian authorities arrested a man accused of running online investment scams. He is believed to have made upwards of USD 300,000 by luring victims through messaging platforms with false promises of cryptocurrency returns.

In Cameroon, authorities arrested a group suspected of trafficking victims from seven different countries to run a multi-level marketing scam. After paying a "membership fee", victims were promised employment opportunities or training but once in Cameroon, they were held captive and obliged to lure others into the scheme to gain their freedom. Initial estimates show that the group had already pocketed at least USD 150,000 in fees.

Angolan investigators dismantled an international criminal group running a virtual casino in Luanda. The group, which primarily targeted Brazilian and Nigerian gamblers, defrauded hundreds through its online platform, offering a percentage of winnings to members who recruited new subscribers. Some 150 arrests were made, with officers seizing 200 computers and more than 100 mobile phones.

Operation Serengeti was carried out with funding of the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the German Federal Foreign Office and the Council of Europe.

Participating Countries:

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Operational Partners:

Cybercrime Atlas, Fortinet, Group-IB, Kaspersky, Team Cymru, Trend Micro, Uppsala Security

INTERPOL Operation Serengeti 2024 Preparation & Collaboration

INTERPOL Operation Serengeti Criminals & Crime Scenes

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