Operation Catalyst was coordinated by Interpol and Afripol between July and September 2025 in Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Sudan and aimed to identify and disrupt financial flows and schemes found to have connections to terrorism financing and its support networks.

Of the 83 arrests, 21 were for terrorism-related crimes, 28 were for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 were linked to cyber-enabled scams and a further 18 were related to the illicit use of virtual assets.

Over the two-month operation, authorities across participating countries screened more than 15 000 persons of interest and entities, uncovering around $260 million in both fiat and virtual currencies potentially linked to terrorism-related activities. Approximately $600 000 has already been seized, with additional investigations underway to trace and recover further assets, Interpol said in a statement on 22 October.

Tackling terrorist financing is particularly complex for law enforcement, as it often cuts across diverse criminal activities, including fraud, kidnapping for ransom, illicit trade, online scams, Ponzi schemes and the misuse of virtual assets. These illegal activities can be linked to terrorism financing directly—when terrorist groups receive funds from such schemes—or indirectly, through money laundering or intermediary networks. These connections highlight how different forms of crime are increasingly intertwined, underscoring the need for a united and coordinated response, Interpol explained.

To tackle this multifaceted threat, participating countries shared intelligence on significant targets at the pre-operation phase. This was supplemented by strategic cyber intelligence from Interpol and Afripol with key data from private-sector entities Binance, Moody’s and Uppsala Security.

In one significant case from Angola, 25 individuals of multiple nationalities were detained following investigations into informal value transfer systems that were identified as connected to potential terrorist financing and money laundering. The operation included the inspection of 30 commercial establishments, where police seized approximately $588 000, 100 mobile phones and 40 computers. Sixty bank accounts were also frozen.

In Kenya, a suspected money laundering operation using a virtual asset service provider was identified as having potential links to terrorism financing. The scheme, worth approximately $430 000, involved 12 people, two of whom have so far been arrested. In a separate case in Kenya, two individuals were arrested for the online recruitment of young people from East and North Africa into terrorist groups. The funds used for the recruitment and radicalization were traced through a cryptocurrency trading platform, back to individuals in Tanzania.

In Nigeria, the operation led to the arrest of 11 suspected terrorists, including high-level members of several terrorist groups.

One notable transnational case involved a massive cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme, which claimed to be a legitimate online trading platform, affected at least 17 countries around the word, including Cameroon, Kenya, and Nigeria. The scheme accumulated more than 100 000 victims around the world, with an estimated loss to victims of $562 million. The investigations related to Operation Catalyst found that several large-valued wallets were potentially linked to terrorism financing activities. The case is still ongoing, with investigations currently in progress.

As part of Operation Catalyst, a Red Notice was also issued for an individual thought to be behind a sophisticated cryptocurrency scheme which scammed victims of approximately $5 million. The scam redirected funds to multiple addresses and centralized exchange platforms to obscure the trail and convert the assets into fiat currency. Investigators believe the case exhibits several traits consistent with known terrorist financing methodologies.

“Operation Catalyst is the first time financial crime, cybercrime and counter-terrorism units from multiple African countries have joined forces with Interpol and Afripol to target the financing of terrorism. By sharing intelligence, expertise and resources, we can more effectively identify and disrupt the financial flows that support terrorist activities to stay one step ahead of these threats and keep our communities safe,” said Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza.

“The success of Operation Catalyst lies in the synergy and convergence of efforts among national units combating financial crime, cybercrime, and terrorism. This joint endeavour, dedicated to disrupting the financing of terrorism across the African continent, illustrates how coordinated action between Member States, facilitated by Afripol and Interpol, can effectively address complex and evolving security threats. Such cooperation stands as tangible proof that Africa’s law-enforcement community, when united, offers a decisive and appropriate response in the pursuit of a secure and stable Africa,” said Ambassador Jalel Chelba, Afripol’s Executive Director.

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Two-thirds of the Organization’s African member countries surveyed said that cyber-related crimes accounted for a medium-to-high share of all crimes, rising to 30 per cent in Western and Eastern Africa.

Online scams, particularly through phishing, were the most frequently reported cybercrimes in Africa, while ransomware, business email compromise (BEC) and digital sextortion also remain widespread.

Neal Jetton, INTERPOL Cybercrime Director, said:

“This fourth edition of the INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment provides a vital snapshot of the current situation, informed by operational intelligence, extensive law enforcement engagement and strategic private-sector collaboration. It paints a clear picture of a threat landscape in flux, with emerging dangers like AI-driven fraud that demand urgent attention. No single agency or country can face these challenges alone.”

Ambassador Jalel Chelba, Acting Executive Director of AFRIPOL, said:

“Cybersecurity is not merely a technical issue; it has become a fundamental pillar of stability, peace, and sustainable development in Africa. It directly concerns the digital sovereignty of states, the resilience of our institutions, citizen trust and the proper functioning of our economies.”

Africa’s top cyberthreats

In the past year, suspected scam notifications rose by up to 3,000 per cent in some African countries, according to data from Kaspersky – one of several private sector partners that works with INTERPOL’s cybercrime directorate.

Ransomware detections in Africa also rose in 2024, with South Africa and Egypt suffering the highest number, at 17,849 and 12,281 detections respectively according to data from Trend Micro, followed by other highly digitized economies such as Nigeria (3,459) and Kenya (3,030).

Incidents included attacks on critical infrastructure, such as a breach at Kenya’s Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and on government databases, such as hacks of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

BEC-related incidents also rose significantly, with 11 African nations accounting for the majority of BEC activity originating on the continent. In West Africa, BEC fraud has driven highly organized, multi-million-dollar criminal enterprises, such as transnational syndicate Black Axe.

Sixty per cent of African member countries reported an increase in reports of digital sextortion, where threat actors use sexually explicit images to blackmail their targets. The images can be authentic – shared voluntarily or obtained through coercion or deception – or they can be generated by artificial intelligence.

Law enforcement challenges

Cybercrime continues to outpace the legal systems designed to stop it, according to African law enforcement. Seventy-five per cent of countries surveyed said their legal frameworks and prosecution capacity needed improvement.

At the same time, countries also reported struggling to enforce the existing laws on cybercrime, with 95 per cent of respondents reported inadequate training, resource constraints and a lack of access to specialized tools.

Despite rising caseloads, most African member countries surveyed still lack essential IT infrastructure to combat cybercrime. Just 30 per cent of countries reported having an incident reporting system, 29 per cent a digital evidence repository and 19 per cent a cyberthreat intelligence database.

While cybercrime routinely crosses national borders, 86 per cent of African member countries surveyed said their international cooperation capacity needs improvement due to slow, formal processes, a lack of operational networks, and limited access to platforms and foreign-hosted data.

Cybercrime investigations increasingly rely on cooperation from private sector partners, yet 89 per cent of African countries said their cooperation with the private sector needed ‘significant’ or ‘some’ improvement due to unclear channels for engagement, low institutional readiness and other barriers.

Strengthening cyber resilience

Nevertheless, the INTERPOL report also details positive steps that many African member countries have made to strengthen their cyber resilience.

Several African countries advanced their legal frameworks, harmonizing cybersecurity laws with international standards. Many countries also enhanced their cybercrime response capabilities, investing in specialized units and digital forensics infrastructure.

This increased operational capacity was demonstrated in two high-impact international cybercrime operations coordinated by INTERPOL – Operation Serengeti and Operation Red Card – which collectively led to more than 1,000 arrests and the dismantling of hundreds of thousands of malicious networks.

To further improve Africa’s cybercrime response capabilities, the INTERPOL report proposes six strategic recommendations, including improving regional and international cooperation, expanding prevention and public awareness, and leveraging emerging technologies.

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The operation (23-27 September 2024) brought together Nigerian authorities for a first-of-its-kind inter-agency initiative. Nigerian law enforcement agencies and criminal justice stakeholders working on a broad range of crime areas were involved in the operation, including financial crime and cybercrime as well as drug and human trafficking.

Following two months of preparation, national authorities carried out increased border checks, targeted raids at identified hotspots and followed up on actionable leads over five operational days.  Most arrests were made for cyber-enabled fraud and the vast majority of the detained suspects were under the age of 35, reflecting a trend of greater youth involvement in organized crime.

Among the crimes uncovered, common tactics included ‘romance baiting’, in which criminals cultivate online relationships to manipulate victims into investing or transferring their money; investment and cryptocurrency scams, where perpetrators lure victims in fictitious financial schemes; and celebrity scams, which involve the impersonation of well-known figures to solicit money from fans. Three of the arrests were for sextortion, where the suspects were extorting money from victims to prevent the release of compromising or explicit material.

Notable seizures from the operation included 19kg of cocaine, valued at USD 2.8 million; 51kg of cannabis; five cars; two weapons; and 215 rounds of ammunition. The action days also exposed cases of human trafficking, with the identification of 12 victims who had been lured abroad with promises of work but were instead forced into sexual exploitation or forced labour. The investigation led to the arrest of a female recruiter, who had posed as a victim to evade detection, and the seizure of USD 16,000 from her account.

Cyril Gout, INTERPOL’s Acting Executive Director of Police Services, said:

“West African Organized Crime Groups are considered to be among the most aggressive and expansionist criminal groups for their involvement in a broad range of illegal activities, from people smuggling, human trafficking, extortion and kidnapping to oil theft, cybercrime and money laundering. The success of this operation underscores the critical importance of sustained, multi-agency collaboration in disrupting these networks. By working together, at a national and international level we can effectively combat this global threat and bring justice to those affected by these crimes.

Ambassador Jalel Chelba, Acting Executive Director of AFRIPOL, said:

“The success of this operation demonstrates the profound impact of coordinated efforts between national and international law enforcement bodies. AFRIPOL is dedicated to fostering partnerships that bridge the gaps in intelligence sharing and operational coordination, ensuring a united front against the complexities of transnational organized crime. This landmark initiative in Nigeria not only strengthens national capacities but also exemplifies the collective resolve of African member states to combat evolving criminal threats. Our close cooperation with INTERPOL was pivotal to the achievements of this operation and we will continue to work closely with our partners to promote security and stability across the continent.”

Reinforcing national capacity to strengthen global security

During the operation, coordinated by INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau and AFRIPOL’s National Liaison Office in Abuja, officers from both INTERPOL and AFRIPOL were deployed to support criminal intelligence analysis, assist operation coordination and to facilitate crosschecks against databases.

The success of this operation was driven by the collaborative efforts among Nigerian law enforcement agencies, justice stakeholders and the partnership between AFRIPOL and INTERPOL. This joint effort demonstrates the results that can be achieved by effective intelligence sharing and coordinated action from all relevant agencies, paving the way for a new era of cooperation.

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Codenamed Serengeti, the operation targeted criminals involved in ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion and online scams – all identified as prominent threats in the 2024 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report.

Over 35 000 victims were identified during the operation with cases linked to $193 million in financial losses worldwide.

Information on ongoing case provided by participating countries saw Interpol produce 65 cyber analytical reports. These ensured actions on the ground were intelligence-led and focused on the most significant people involved, Interpol said in a statement on 26 November.

Private sector partners, including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), were vital in sharing intelligence, supporting analysis and disrupting criminal activities. They provided on-site support and offered round-the-clock remote assistance to patch vulnerabilities and secure critical infrastructure for the participating member countries.

“From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is a serious concern,” Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, is reported as saying in the statement.

“Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together and these arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from real personal and financial pain. We know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will continue targeting these criminal groups worldwide.”

In Kenya, officers cracked an online credit card fraud case linked to losses of $8.6 million. The funds, stolen through fraudulent scripts run after altering the banking system’s security protocol, were redistributed by the group via SWIFT to companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nigeria and China and subsequently, to digital asset institutions offering trading and financial services regulated in multiple jurisdictions. Nearly two dozen arrests have been made so far.

Eight people, including five Chinese, were arrested in Senegal for a $6 million online Ponzi scheme affecting 1 811 victims. An apartment search apartment led to over 900 SIM cards, $11 000 in cash, phones, laptops and copies of victim ID cards.

Nigerian authorities arrested a man accused of running online investment scams. He is believed to have made upwards of $300 000 by luring victims through messaging platforms with false promises of cryptocurrency returns.

In Cameroon, authorities arrested a group suspected of trafficking victims from seven countries to run a multi-level marketing scam. After paying a “membership fee”, victims were promised employment or training. Once in Cameroon, they were held captive and obliged to lure others into the scheme to gain their freedom. Initial estimates show the group pocketed at least $150 000 in fees.

Angolan investigators dismantled an international criminal group running a virtual casino in Luanda. The group, primarily targeting Brazilian and Nigerian gamblers, defrauded hundreds through its online platform, offering a percentage of winnings to members who recruited new subscribers. A hundred and fifty arrests were made with officers seizing 200 computers and 100 mobile phones.

Afripol is the African Union (AU) mechanism for continental police co-operation.

Participating countries were Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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