Interpol-Led Operation Serengeti III Nets Over 1,400 Arrests in Africa Cybercrime Sweep
An Interpol-coordinated cybercrime operation across 21 African nations and the U.S. resulted in 1,462 arrests, the takedown of over 10,000 malicious networks, and the recovery of $105 million.
Operation Serengeti III, a significant cybercrime crackdown orchestrated by INTERPOL, has concluded with substantial results across Africa. The operation, which ran from June 29 to August 31, 2026, involved law enforcement agencies from 21 countries, including 20 African nations and the United States. This coordinated effort led to the arrest of 1,462 suspects and the dismantling of 10,909 malicious networks.
Investigators successfully recovered over $105 million in illicit funds. These criminal networks were linked to financial losses exceeding $385 million, impacting a staggering 65,929 victims. The cybercrimes targeted spanned a wide range, including ransomware attacks, business email compromise (BEC) schemes, online scams, and various forms of digital extortion.
Prior to the operation, INTERPOL provided participating investigators with crucial intelligence, identifying suspicious domains, IP addresses, and command-and-control infrastructure. The success of the operation was further bolstered by the collaboration of private cybersecurity firms, including Group-IB, Kaspersky, Fortinet, Team Cymru, and Meta, which assisted in identifying targets and mapping the complex network structures used by cybercriminals.
Notable successes were reported across several countries. In Uganda, authorities dismantled two transnational fraud rings, arresting 365 foreign nationals. These rings operated call centers with scripted pitches, fake trading platforms, and fraudulent websites designed to lure pensioners into non-existent investments, primarily targeting victims in Asia.
Angola saw the shutdown of two illegal cryptocurrency mining centers, with nine suspects arrested and over 2,000 mining devices seized. The operation also uncovered six illegal power transformation stations, with the electrical equipment alone valued at over $1 million. Meanwhile, Nigerian authorities apprehended a suspect behind a significant phishing and BEC operation, who had harvested approximately 2.1 million email addresses and was found in possession of a luxury car believed to be purchased with illicit proceeds.
Further actions included the disruption of a malicious mobile loan app scheme in Tanzania, the dismantling of a vehicle import fraud network operating on social media in Gabon, and the arrest of 30 suspects involved in a broader cybercrime operation in the Republic of Congo. These diverse actions highlight the multifaceted nature of cybercrime challenges faced across the continent.
INTERPOL's Director of Cybercrime, Neal Jetton, emphasized the critical role of international cooperation in combating cyber threats. "While cybercrime is increasingly borderless, international cooperation remains one of the most effective tools for disrupting criminal networks, recovering criminal assets and protecting communities from digital harm," Jetton stated, underscoring the ongoing need for such collaborative efforts to tackle the evolving landscape of cybercrime.