- Authorities arrested 1,209 cybercriminals across 18 African countries during an INTERPOL operation.
- The crackdown recovered $97.4 million and took down over 11,400 malicious online infrastructures.
- 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining centers in Angola were closed, with 60 Chinese nationals detained.
- Zambian officials broke up a large cryptocurrency investment fraud, affecting 65,000 victims and causing $300 million in losses.
- Nigeria deported 102 foreign nationals convicted of cybercrime, following the arrest of 792 suspects in December 2024.
Authorities from 18 African countries, working with INTERPOL, arrested 1,209 cybercriminals between June and August 2025. The operation targeted offenders responsible for large-scale online frauds, Ransomware attacks, and business email compromise (BEC) schemes.
During the initiative, law enforcement officials recovered $97.4 million and dismantled 11,432 malicious online infrastructures. According to INTERPOL, the operation is part of an ongoing effort named Operation Serengeti, which has focused on severe cybercrime across Africa.
Officials report that, in Angola, 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining centers were dismantled and 60 Chinese nationals arrested for their roles in the scheme. Authorities seized 45 illicit power stations and technology equipment valued at $37 million, intended to support power services for vulnerable areas.
In Zambia, police shut down a major cryptocurrency investment fraud that had ensnared 65,000 people and generated losses of about $300 million. Officials arrested 15 people, seized domains, mobile numbers, and bank accounts, and disrupted a scam center as well as a suspected human trafficking operation.
INTERPOL stated, “Each INTERPOL-coordinated operation builds on the last, deepening cooperation, increasing information sharing and developing investigative skills across member countries.” The Singapore-based Group-IB provided intelligence for the operation, supplying details on cryptocurrency scams and BEC campaigns. Dmitry Volkov, CEO of Group-IB, said, “Cybercrime recognizes no borders, and its impact is truly global.”
Additionally, Nigerian authorities deported 102 foreign nationals, including 60 Chinese and 39 people from the Philippines, who were convicted of cyber terrorism and internet fraud, according to the China/nigeria-deports-50-chinese-nationals-cybercrime-crackdown-2025-08-21/” target=”_blank”>Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The deportations followed the arrest of 792 cybercrime suspects in December 2024.
Earlier in March 2025, a separate operation called Red Card led to the arrest of 306 suspects and confiscation of 1,842 devices across seven African nations.
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