INTERPOL Operation Jackal III Arrests More Than 300 Scammers
Major Interpol Led Operation Targets ‘Black Axe’ and Other Organized Crime Groups
Primary Category: Criminal Justice
Authors:
• SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• INTERPOL
About This Article
A global law enforcement operation, Operation Jackal III, targeted West African organized crime groups, including Black Axe, resulting in 300 arrests and the seizure of USD 3 million in assets.
Running from April 10 to July 3, 2024, across 21 countries, the operation focused on combating online financial fraud and dismantling criminal networks. Over 400 suspects were identified, and over 720 bank accounts were blocked.
The operation highlighted the critical need for international collaboration in addressing the alarming rise in financial fraud stemming from West Africa.
INTERPOL Operation Strikes Major Blow Against West African Financial Crime – Fraud & Scams
Police seize millions in illegal assets, including cryptocurrencies and luxury items
A global law enforcement operation targeting West African organized crime groups, including Black Axe, has led to hundreds of arrests, the seizure of assets worth USD 3 million, and the dismantling of multiple criminal networks around the world.
Operation Jackal III, which ran from 10 April to 3 July across 21 countries on five continents, targeted online financial fraud and the West African syndicates behind it.
The annual operation resulted in some 300 arrests, the identification of over 400 additional suspects, and the blocking of more than 720 bank accounts.
Isaac Oginni, Director of INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) said:
“The volume of financial fraud stemming from West Africa is alarming and increasing. This operation’s results underscore the critical need for international law enforcement collaboration to combat these extensive criminal networks.
“By identifying suspects, recovering illicit funds and putting some of West Africa’s most dangerous organized crime leaders behind bars, we are able to weaken their influence and reduce their capacity to harm communities around the world.”
‘Supernotes’ – High-Quality Counterfeit Money
Black Axe is one of the most prominent West African transnational organized crime syndicates, with operations in cyber fraud, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and violent crimes both within Africa and globally.
In Argentina, Operation Jackal III saw the dismantling of a Nigerian-led transnational criminal network following a five-year investigation. The Federal Police seized USD 1.2 million in ‘supernotes’ – high-quality counterfeit banknotes – arrested 72 suspects and froze approximately 100 bank accounts.
The network used money mules to open bank accounts worldwide and is now under investigation in over 40 countries for related money laundering activities. The suspects include citizens from Argentina, Colombia, Nigeria and Venezuela.
More than 160 fraud victims suffered significant financial losses, with some forced to sell their homes or take out large loans as a result.
Illegal Money Trails
Diego Verdun, Head of Argentina’s National Central Bureau, said:
“Operation Jackal is a crucial step forward in combating West African online financial fraud and clearly demonstrates that cybercriminals cannot escape the watchful eye of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries – especially in Argentina.
“By following illegal money trails worldwide, INTERPOL and the global police community ensure that no matter where these criminals try to hide, they will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.”
In a separate case in Switzerland, police cracked down on West African organized crime syndicates operating nationwide, seizing cocaine, approximately EUR 45,000 in cash, and arresting multiple suspects.
INTERPOL supported the operation by providing real-time access to its databases, facilitating the identification of criminals and their activities.
Cryptocurrency Transactions
Portuguese criminal police dismantled a Nigerian network involved in money mule recruitment, laundering funds from online financial fraud victims across Europe. More than 25 syndicate members were identified in the process.
Data from seized computers and phones revealed large transfers to Nigerian bank accounts, cryptocurrency transactions, and sophisticated money laundering operations.
Participants
INTERPOL headquarters assisted countries by facilitating intelligence exchange and the identification and apprehension of suspects.
Operation Jackal III mobilized police forces, financial intelligence units, asset recovery offices, and private sector partners in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cote D’Ivoire, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Please Leave Us Your Comment
Also, tell us of any topics we might have missed.
Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.
Recent Reader Comments
- on Thanksgiving and its Meaning for Scam Victims – 2024: “Thanksgiving was the first holiday spent at the beginning of my experience. Thought I was teaching “My Brit” all about…” Nov 25, 10:39
- on A Scam Victim in Extreme Distress – Stopping the Pain – 2024: “Knowing it and truly believing it are two different things, and there is where it does get better. That threshold…” Nov 19, 02:27
- on A Scam Victim in Extreme Distress – Stopping the Pain – 2024: “Yes I know the scam was not my fault and that I was targeted by them. It just doesn’t make…” Nov 17, 12:16
- on President Trump Launches Campaign for Free Speech and to Go After Tech Industry Platforms – 2024: “This is very good! This is the beginning of great things, in my opinion.” Nov 10, 09:18
- on The Bouba-Kiki Effect and the Psychology of Scam Victims – 2024: “This excellent article highlights the power of awareness, mindfulness and intuition as tools of discernment in our daily life. Bringing…” Nov 7, 01:06
- on The Bouba-Kiki Effect and the Psychology of Scam Victims – 2024: “Great, very informative article. The information on the Effect not only explains why we were so easy, quick to accept…” Nov 6, 12:09
- on Labyrinth Walking and Spiral Walking Meditation for Scam Victims – 2024: “I Googled Labyrinth walking path near me and found a number of them in my community, I visited an few…” Oct 30, 15:50
- on Mindfulness Breathing For Scam Victims Recovery 2024: “This is an excellent article on Mindfullness practice. There is an app called “Balance” that I use often to help…” Oct 30, 15:03
- on The Tao – The Philosophy of the Path to Recovery: “This article is a good introduction to Taoism. Youtube has a number of good motivational speakers and their works in…” Oct 30, 14:41
- on The Value of Slowness: “Since the scam happened, I have learned to slow down and evaluate incoming potential email threats, not answering phone calls…” Oct 30, 14:17
Did you find this article useful?
If you did, please help the SCARS Institute to continue helping Scam Victims to become Survivors.
Your gift helps us continue our work and help more scam victims to find the path to recovery!
You can give at donate.AgainstScams.org
Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
SCARS Resources:
- Getting Started: ScamVictimsSupport.org
- FREE enrollment in the SCARS Institute training programs for scam victims SCARSeducation.org
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Learn more about the Psychology of Scams and Scam Victims: ScamPsychology.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
- Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
More ScamsNOW.com Articles
SCARS LINKS: AgainstScams.org RomanceScamsNOW.com ContraEstafas.org ScammerPhotos.com Anyscam.com ScamsNOW.com
reporting.AgainstScams.org support.AgainstScams.org membership.AgainstScams.org donate.AgainstScams.org shop.AgainstScams.org
youtube.AgainstScams.org linkedin.AgainstScams.org facebook.AgainstScams.org
Leave a Reply