Operation Serengeti III marks a new stage in the fight against cybercrime in Africa. Coordinated by Interpol, this international campaign led to 1,462 arrests and recovered more than $105 million. In Nigeria, an investigation notably revealed the use of crypto transactions to launder part of the funds resulting from an investment scam. Authorities have also targeted fraudulent networks and illegal mining facilities.
In brief
- Interpol announces 1,462 arrests during Operation Serengeti III carried out in Africa and the United States.
- Authorities recovered more than $105 million and dismantled 10,909 malicious networks.
- In Nigeria, an investigation traced more than $2.4 million from a scam, a large part of which was allegedly laundered through crypto transactions.
- In Uganda, law enforcement arrested 365 foreign nationals involved in two suspected transnational fraud rings.
- In Angola, investigators seized more than 2,000 mining devices and dismantled two illegal centers.
An international operation against cybercrime and money laundering
Operation Serengeti III took place from June 29 to August 31, with the participation of law enforcement agencies from 20 African countries and the United States. Interpol has announcement the results on October 22, after several weeks of coordinated investigations. Authorities have targeted different forms of digital crime, including online fraud, extortion, ransomware and attacks targeting business communications.
In total, investigations established a link between these activities and more than $385 million in losses. Investigators identified 65,929 victims in the various cases examined. At the same time, the operations recovered more than $105 million and dismantled 10,909 malicious networks. These results illustrate the scale of criminal activity that authorities seek to combat.
The director of Interpol’s cybercrime service, Neal Jetton, highlighted the international dimension of this threat.
Cybercrime networks operate across borders, exploiting technology to target victims on an unprecedented scale.
Neal Jetton, director of Interpol’s cybercrime department. Source: Interpol press release.
According to him, criminal networks exploit technologies to reach their victims without taking borders into account. This reality complicates the work of investigators, who must trace financial flows, identify perpetrators and gather digital evidence from several territories.
Crypto laundering at the heart of a Nigerian investigation
In Nigeria, an investigation traced more than $2.4 million allegedly coming from criminal activities. The funds allegedly came from an international investment scam, organized in particular through messaging applications. A suspect has been arrested in connection with this case. Investigations then revealed that a large part of the money had passed through crypto transactions.
This discovery shows how digital payments can intervene in financial circuits linked to scams. Investigators sought to track the movements of the funds in order to understand their origin and destination. However, the information communicated does not specify the platforms used or the digital assets concerned. They therefore do not make it possible to determine exactly how the suspects transferred or converted the sums in question.
The Nigerian case is part of a broader pattern of fraud targeting victims beyond national borders. Scammers use digital services to contact their targets and present false investment opportunities. In this context, transaction monitoring constitutes an important element of financial investigations. Authorities must reconcile digital data, fund movements and other evidence collected to establish accountability.
Cybersecurity company Group-IB also supported investigators by providing them with information about malicious infrastructure and suspected fraudsters. This information included data on tools used to steal sensitive information, networks of compromised devices, and social accounts associated with suspicious activity. This cooperation between cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement helps investigators better understand the methods used by criminal networks.
Crypto investment scams in several African countries
In Uganda, authorities dismantled two transnational fraud rings and arrested 365 foreign nationals. These groups particularly targeted victims in Asia, using pre-recorded calls, fake trading platforms and fraudulent sites. Their goal was to convince retirees to invest in opportunities that didn’t exist. This case illustrates the ability of scammers to organize their activities in one country while targeting victims elsewhere.
In Nigeria, another investigation concerned a suspect involved in phishing and business email compromise operations. This would have collected software identifiers and accumulated approximately 2.1 million email addresses. Authorities also seized a luxury vehicle suspected of having been purchased with criminal proceeds. These elements should help investigators reconstruct the suspect’s activities and trace the funds involved.
Other interventions have targeted malicious mobile loan apps in Tanzania and vehicle import fraud in Gabon. In the Republic of Congo, authorities arrested 30 suspects. Several investigations remain open, while the services concerned continue to analyze the digital evidence seized. They are also seeking to identify possible accomplices and to find the sums resulting from the alleged activities. These steps can make it possible to clarify the extent of the networks and their financial links.
Angola strengthens fight against illegal mining
In Angola, authorities arrested nine suspects and discovered two illegal crypto mining centers. Investigators seized more than 2,000 devices used in this activity. They also confiscated six illegally installed electrical transformer stations. This equipment, which is used to modify electrical voltage for distribution, alone represented a value of more than a million dollars.
This intervention is part of a mining restriction policy initiated before Operation Serengeti III. In December 2023, the Angolan National Assembly had approved measures targeting this activity. The authorities then cited energy security, environmental concerns and monetary sovereignty. The ban came into effect in 2024, limiting mining activities in the country.
After this decision, the Chinese embassy in Angola recommended Chinese nationals and institutions to respect local rules. She also warned against offers linked to virtual currencies that promise get-rich-quick or guaranteed returns. This warning highlights the risks associated with misleading financial propositions, in a context where authorities seek to better regulate activities linked to digital assets.
Operation Serengeti 2.0, carried out separately in 2025, had already led to the dismantling of 25 mining centers in Angola. Authorities then seized 45 illicit power plants as well as computer and mining equipment valued at more than $37 million. The new seizures show that checks are continuing despite previous measures. They also place electricity consumption at the center of efforts against illegal mining.
Next steps will depend on continued investigations and the ability of authorities to trace suspicious funds. In Africa, the fight against cybercrime must notably combine international cooperation, financial analysis and control of illegal infrastructures. Monitoring crypto transactions will remain an important focus when investigators suspect their use in money laundering circuits. The results of the current procedures will make it possible to clarify the responsibilities and the amounts likely to be recovered.
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