A cybercrime crackdown across Africa has resulted in 1,462 arrests, disruption of 10,909 malicious networks and recovery of more than $105 million suspected illicit funds. The operation involved law enforcement agencies from 21 countries working to tackle cyber-enabled crime.
Coordinated by INTERPOL, Operation Serengeti III ran from June 29 to August 31, 2026. It targeted online scams, ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion and other forms of cyber-enabled fraud.
Investigators identified 65,929 victims targeted by criminal networks. Financial investigations linked the cases to losses exceeding $385 million.
AI adds to Africa’s cybercrime challenges
INTERPOL’s African Cyber Threat Assessment Report 2026 highlights a rapidly changing threat landscape, with artificial intelligence increasingly supporting cybercrime and financial losses continuing to rise.
Before the operation, investigators from 20 African countries and the United States received intelligence on suspicious domains, IP addresses and command-and-control infrastructure. Private-sector partners also provided technical analysis and expertise to help identify targets and disrupt criminal networks.
INTERPOL Director of Cybercrime Neal Jetton said:
“Cybercrime networks operate without regard for borders, exploiting technology to target victims on an unprecedented scale.
“Operation Serengeti III reinforces a clear message: 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.”
Key findings across participating countries
- Uganda: Authorities dismantled 2 transnational fraud rings and arrested 365 foreign nationals linked to online investment and pension scams targeting victims across Asia. Investigators uncovered call centres using scripts, fake trading platforms and fraudulent websites to deceive pensioners.
- Angola: Police dismantled 2 illegal cryptocurrency mining centres, arrested 9 suspects and seized more than 2,000 mining devices and 6 illegal power transformation stations. The electrical infrastructure alone was valued at more than $1 million.
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Nigeria: Investigators arrested a suspect linked to phishing and BEC operations that collected software credentials and approximately 2.1 million email addresses. They also recovered a luxury vehicle suspected of being bought with criminal proceeds.
- Nigeria: A separate investment fraud investigation led to 1 arrest. Investigators traced more than $2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds, much of it laundered through cryptocurrency.
Authorities also disrupted a malicious mobile loan app scheme in Tanzania, a vehicle import fraud network in Gabon and a cybercrime operation in the Republic of Congo, where 30 suspects were arrested.
Investigations remain active, with authorities tracing funds, analysing seized digital evidence and identifying additional suspects. The operation received private-sector support and co-funding from the European Union and Council of Europe’s GLACY-e project.
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