INTERPOL AND AFRIPOL ARREST 1,200 IN GLOBAL OPERATION, SEIZE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

Over the course of two months this year, police in 18 countries carried out coordinated crackdowns, resulting in more than 1,200 arrests and the seizure of millions of dollars. The suspects, according to INTERPOL and AFRIPOL, were part of sprawling cybercrime networks that reached across Africa and into Europe.
The joint mission, called Operation Serengeti 2.0, has been described as one of the largest cybercrime sweeps ever attempted on the continent.
INTERPOL reports that 1,209 people were taken into custody and nearly USD 97.4 million in stolen funds were recovered. Victims numbered in the tens of thousands.
Zambia revealed a more familiar fraud—an online investment scam promising quick returns. More than 65,000 people fell for it, losing nearly USD 300 million before the network was dismantled. Fifteen suspects were detained, and investigators seized accounts, mobile numbers, and 372 fake passports used to support the scheme.
Côte d’Ivoire police traced another racket back to Germany. This one posed as an inheritance deal: victims were told they had fortunes waiting, if they paid “fees” first. Losses hit USD 1.6 million before the organiser was caught in Abidjan. Cash, jewellery, cars, and documents were also seized.
The operation was not only about raids. Private tech companies worked alongside police, providing data and tracking tools. The World Economic Forum, which followed the work closely, summed it up: “A recent joint effort by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL across 18 countries saw 1,200 arrests and $97 million recovered.”