Interpol has announced the arrest of over 1,200 suspected cybercriminals across 18 African nations and the United Kingdom as part of a sweeping three-month operation targeting cyber fraud,cryptocurrency scams,and transnational crime.
Dubbed Operation Serengeti 2.0,the crackdown ran from June to August 2025 and resulted in the dismantling of more than 11,000 cybercrime infrastructures and the recovery of nearly $100 million,protecting nearly 88,000 victims. The operation,launched in response to a dramatic surge in online fraud — reported to have risen by 3,000% in some African countries — focused on high-impact threats identified in the Interpol Africa Cyberthreat Assessment,including business email compromise and ransomware.
One of the key operations took place in Angola,where authorities shut down 25 illegal crypto-mining centers run by Chinese nationals,seizing $37 million in equipment. Proceeds will support local electricity distribution. In Zambia,the police dismantled a $300 million online investment scam,arresting 15 suspects and uncovering ties to potential human trafficking networks. Investigators seized forged passports and digital evidence. Further,in Ivory Coast,the police disrupted a long-running inheritance scam originating in Germany,arresting the ringleader and confiscating luxury goods and cash.
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza praised the operation’s scale and effectiveness,noting it demonstrated “deepening cooperation,increasing information sharing and developing investigative skills across member countries.” Supported by private sector partners and the InterCOP prevention network,Serengeti 2.0 highlights the urgent need for global collaboration in tackling Africa’s evolving cybercrime threats.
United News - unews.co.za