Interpol arrests over 1,000 suspects linked to cybercrime in Africa
- A two-month operation by Interpol resulted in the arrest of 1,006 suspects across 19 African countries.
- This operation targeted a wide range of cybercrimes including ransomware and online scams, impacting tens of thousands of victims.
- The crackdown reflects a growing concern over the sophistication and volume of cybercrime in Africa, prompting increased law enforcement collaboration.
In September 2023, a significant crackdown on cybercrime was initiated by Interpol, resulting in the arrest of 1,006 suspects across 19 African nations. This operation, named Operation Serengeti, lasted until the end of October 2023 and aimed to dismantle networks involved in various cybercriminal activities including ransomware, digital extortion, business email compromise, and online scams. The operation revealed the wide-reaching impact of cybercrime, which has led to extensive financial damages and victimization in the continent including trafficking cases. The collaboration between Interpol and Afripol was crucial in this operation. Afripol, the African Union's police agency, has been increasingly involved in supporting member states to effectively combat the rising threats of cybercrime. According to key figures such as Valdecy Urquiza, the Secretary General of Interpol, there is growing concern over the volume and sophistication of cyberattacks, which have evolved to include multi-level marketing scams and industrial-scale credit card fraud. In Senegal, authorities arrested eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals, who were implicated in a multi-million dollar online Ponzi scheme, illustrating the scale of international criminal involvement. Moreover, the operation uncovered various other criminal enterprises, including a human trafficking scheme linked to a multi-level marketing scam in Cameroon, an illegal virtual casino operation in Angola, and a cryptocurrency investment scam in Nigeria. The developments during Operation Serengeti underline not only the collaborative efforts among law enforcement across African nations but also highlight urgent issues such as the emergence of AI-driven malware and advanced cyberattack techniques, which Afripol now aims to address. In the backdrop of these operations, Interpol faces numerous challenges including a rapidly growing caseload of cybercrime and increasing divisions among its member countries. With a budget of about 176 million euros in the previous year, Interpol strives to support national police forces in facilitating communication and coordination to counter threats not just limited to cybercrime but also extending to terrorism, financial crime, and organized crime.