Interpol, in a joint operation with Afripol, has successfully arrested 1,006 suspects across 19 African countries. This two-month operation, codenamed Serengeti, targeted cybercriminals involved in ransomware attacks, business email compromises, digital extortion, and online scams.
The operation, which ran from September 2nd to October 31st, identified 35,000 victims and linked the cyberattacks to nearly $193 million in global financial losses. The success of Serengeti can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of local police authorities and private sector partners, including internet service providers.
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza highlighted the increasing sophistication and volume of cybercrime attacks, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to combat this growing threat. Jalel Chelba, Afripol’s Executive Director, praised the operation for significantly enhancing law enforcement support across African Union Member States.
This year’s operation marks a significant improvement over previous years, with a drastic increase in arrests compared to the 25 made in the past two years. Enrique Hernandez Gonzalez, Interpol’s Assistant Director of Cybercrime Operations, attributed this progress to enhanced collaboration and intelligence sharing among participating countries.
Key achievements of Operation Serengeti include the arrest of nearly two dozen individuals in Kenya for a credit card fraud scheme linked to $8.6 million in losses and the arrest of eight people in Senegal, including five Chinese nationals, for a $6 million online Ponzi scheme.
Afripol has outlined its future focus on emerging cyber threats, such as AI-driven malware and advanced cyberattack techniques.
Other notable successes include the dismantling of a human trafficking network in Cameroon, an illegal virtual casino operation in Angola, and a cryptocurrency investment scam in Nigeria.
Interpol, a global police organization with 196 member countries, continues to play a vital role in combating transnational crime, including cybercrime.
However, it faces challenges such as increasing cybercrime cases and growing divisions among member countries.