Operation Serengeti 2.0: INTERPOL nabs 1,209 cybercriminals in Africa, seizes $97M

INTERPOL arrested 1,209 cybercriminals in 18 African nations seizing $97.4M, and dismantling 11,432 malicious infrastructures.

INTERPOL announced the result of the second phase of ongoing law enforcement Operation Serengeti (June to August 2025) that led to 1,209 arrests across 18 nations in Africa. The authorities are aiding 88,000 victims, seizing $97.4M, and dismantling 11,432 cybercrime infrastructures.

Operation Serengeti 2.0 (Jun–Aug 2025) united 18 African nations and the UK to fight ransomware, online scams, and BEC. Operation Serengeti 2.0, part of the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime and funded by the UK FCDO, involved partners like Fortinet, Group-IB, Kaspersky, Trend Micro, TRM Labs, Shadowserver, Team Cymru, Cybercrime Atlas, and Uppsala Security.

“In a sweeping INTERPOL-coordinated operation, authorities across Africa have arrested 1,209 cybercriminals targeting nearly 88,000 victims.” reads the press release published by INTERPOL.

“The crackdown recovered USD 97.4 million and dismantled 11,432 malicious infrastructures, underscoring the global reach of cybercrime and the urgent need for cross-border cooperation.”

Zambian authorities dismantled a $300M crypto investment fraud affecting 65,000 victims, arresting 15 suspects and seizing domains, bank accounts, and mobile numbers. They also uncovered a scam centre tied to human trafficking, confiscating 372 forged passports. In Côte d’Ivoire, police broke up a transnational inheritance scam linked to Germany, arresting the main suspect and seizing assets. The fraud, still lucrative despite its age, caused $1.6M in losses through fake inheritance fees.

“Each INTERPOL-coordinated operation builds on the last, deepening cooperation, increasing information sharing and developing investigative skills across member countries. With more contributions and shared expertise, the results keep growing in scale and impact. This global network is stronger than ever, delivering real outcomes and safeguarding victims.” said Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Africa)