International Law Enforcement Operation: Interpol's Operation Serengeti 2.0 Snares Crypto Swindles Worth Millions in Various African Nations

Operation Serengeti 2.0, a coordinated operation led by INTERPOL and involving investigators from 18 African countries and the United Kingdom, was conducted between June and August 2025. This operation, which targeted high-harm cybercrimes such as ransomware, online crypto scams, and business email compromise (BEC), resulted in the arrest of 1,209 cybercriminals across 19 African countries.

The operation, funded by the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), was conducted under the framework of the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC). It was bolstered by strong private-sector collaboration, with operational partners including Cybercrime Atlas, Fortinet, Group-IB, Kaspersky, The Shadowserver Foundation, Team Cymru, Trend Micro, TRM Labs, and Uppsala Security.

In Angola, authorities dismantled 25 cryptocurrency mining centres and confiscated 45 illicit power stations and mining/IT equipment valued at over $37 million. Similarly, in Zambia, investigators dismantled a major online crypto investment fraud scheme that victimized 65,000 individuals and led to losses of approximately $300 million.

In a separate operation in Nigeria, over 100 individuals were convicted and deported in a landmark EFCC operation against crypto investment scams. In Côte d'Ivoire, law enforcement dismantled a transnational inheritance scam originating in Germany and seized assets worth an estimated $1.6 million.

The operation led to the recovery of USD 97.4 million and the dismantling of 11,432 malicious infrastructures. Kaspersky reported that East Africa was the largest target market for crypto miners at risk from cybercriminals in 2021.

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Notable cases from the operation include the uncovering and dismantling of a transnational inheritance fraud conspiracy in Côte d'Ivoire, with the primary suspect being Jean-Baptiste Kouadio. The operation also included preventive efforts, partnering with the International Cyber Offender Prevention Network (InterCOP).

The operation marked a significant step forward in the fight against cybercrime across Africa, demonstrating the power of international cooperation in combating these threats. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial that efforts to combat cybercrime adapt and grow in tandem.

International Law Enforcement Operation: Interpol's Operation Serengeti 2.0 Snares Crypto Swindles Worth Millions in Various African Nations