During a two-month operation to combat cybercrime that left tens of thousands of victims, including some who were trafficked, and caused millions of dollars in financial losses, Interpol detained 1,006 suspects across Africa, the international police agency said Tuesday.
The agency said in a statement that Operation Serengeti, a combined operation with Afripol, the African Union's police agency, targeted criminals responsible for ransomware, business email breach, digital extortion, and online frauds, took place in 19 African countries between September 2 and October 31.
“From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern," stated Valdecy Urquiza, the Secretary General of Interpol.
Local law enforcement and business sector partners, including internet service providers, were instrumental in the investigation, according to Interpol, which identified 35,000 victims and related cases to international financial losses of nearly $193 million.
In a case involving online credit card theft that resulted in losses of $8.6 million, Kenyan police made around two dozen arrests. Eight individuals, including five Chinese nationals, were arrested by police in Senegal, a country in West Africa, for involvement in a $6 million online Ponzi scheme.
Chelba stated that Afripol's attention is now on new threats such as AI-driven malware and advanced cyberattack strategies. Other demolished networks included a Cameroonian organisation suspected of using a multi-level marketing fraud for human trafficking, an Angolan international criminal cell operating an illegal virtual casino, and a Nigerian cryptocurrency investment scam, according to the agency.
Interpol, which has 196 member nations and celebrated its centenary last year, helps national police forces communicate with one another and seek down suspects and offenders in domains such as counterterrorism, financial crime, child pornography, cybercrime, and organised crime.
The world's largest, if not best-funded, police organisation has faced novel challenges, including an increase in cybercrime and child sex abuse cases, as well as rising tensions among member countries. Interpol had a total budget of about 176 million euros (about $188 million) last year, compared to more than 200 million euros at Europol, the European Union's police agency, and approximately $11 billion at the FBI in the United States.