The International Criminal Police Organization announced today (August 22) the success of a multinational operation named “Operation Serengeti 2.0” in combating cybercrime in Africa. A total of 1,209 individuals were arrested across Africa, leading to the recovery of nearly $97.4 million in illicit funds.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the operation took place from June to August with the participation of 18 African countries and law enforcement agencies from the United Kingdom. The operation targeted various cybercrimes such as inheritance fraud, ransomware, and business email scams, affecting close to 88,000 victims.
Law enforcement authorities dismantled 25 cryptocurrency mining centers in Angola, where 60 Chinese nationals were engaging in illegal mining activities. The International Criminal Police Organization announced the seizure of equipment valued at over $37 million. The Angolan government plans to repurpose this equipment for electricity supply to alleviate local power shortages.
In Zambia, police disrupted a fraudulent high-yield cryptocurrency investment scheme that deceived over 65,000 individuals, resulting in losses amounting to $300 million. During the operation, 15 individuals were arrested, and authorities discovered evidence including domain names, phone numbers, and bank accounts. The International Criminal Police Organization also noted that while locating the fraud center, they simultaneously targeted a network suspected of human trafficking.
Furthermore, in Ivory Coast, an international inheritance fraud case was uncovered. Originating in Germany, victims were deceived into paying fees to claim false inheritances, resulting in losses of approximately $1.6 million.
The International Criminal Police Organization stated, “Fraudsters lure investors into purchasing cryptocurrencies through advertisements, promising high returns. Subsequently, victims are requested to download multiple applications to participate.” They also cautioned that inheritance fraud remains one of the oldest scams online, continuing to generate substantial profits for criminal groups.
Headquartered in Lyon, France, the International Criminal Police Organization currently comprises 196 member countries, making it the world’s largest international police network. It assists countries in tracking suspects involved in terrorism, financial crimes, child pornography, cybercrimes, and organized crime.
The Associated Press pointed out that in recent years, the International Criminal Police Organization has faced new challenges, including the increasing scale of cybercrime, a rise in incidents of child sexual abuse, and deepening disagreements among member countries. Last year’s inaugural “Operation Serengeti” led to the arrests of over 1,000 individuals and involved 35,000 victims in total.