In a statement on Tuesday, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said the annual Interpol General Assembly is a platform for member countries to strengthen multilateral partnerships and to adopt collective strategies aimed at enhancing global safety and security.

Mathale said the SAPS delegation will utilise the opportunity to focus its efforts on strengthening relations with member countries to prevent and combat the country’s challenges which include border security, human trafficking and vehicle smuggling cases, drug trafficking and the flow of illegal firearms between countries.

“Transnational crime is a serious cause for concern for South Africa, and this meeting presents an opportunity for law enforcement agencies to strengthen collaboration at an international level. We look forward to robust discussions, and may we depart having gained improved cooperation and mutual understanding with the various countries that have converged under one roof,” he said.

Senior police officers, including the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu Natal, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the Head of Specialised units in SAPS, Major General Nonhlanhla Zulu and the Head of Interpol in SA, Brigadier Ntime Mokhine are part of the Deputy Minister’s delegation.

The delegation will engage in bilateral meetings with other member countries to explore enhanced intelligence sharing, training, and technical support.

“We are looking forward to bilateral discussions with leading countries on cyber security to enable us as a country to improve and enhance our cybercrime security efforts. Bilateral engagements will also include countries affected by drug smuggling especially South America.

“We will also be actively participating and supporting the adoption of a Silver notice as a strategy to trace and recover criminals’ assets which are kept in foreign countries,” said Mkhwanazi.

South Africa’s participation in this is expected to further cement the country’s long-standing role within Interpol and its contribution toward a safer and more secure world.

The outcomes of the General Assembly will guide future joint operations, technological advancements in policing, and improved law-enforcement collaboration across regions.
The expansion of Interpol tools and capabilities will feature high on the agenda and will be given attention to ensure that these tools will be shared with other law enforcement agencies in the fight against Transnational Organised Crime.

The 93rd Session of the assembly is anticipated to conclude with several resolutions aimed at strengthening global security frameworks and enhancing the collective capability of member countries to respond to evolving criminal networks.

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Operation Screen West Africa 2025 (July – October) brought together law enforcement agencies from 12 West African countries to strengthen border security, track persons with links to terrorism and disrupt transnational organized crime networks, Interpol said in a statement. Frontline officers at land, air and sea borders used Interpol Mobile Devices and other systems to access the Organization’s extensive global databases, carrying out a total of 1.7 million real-time checks, up from 1.3 million in 2024.

In all, Operation Screen West Africa 2025 led to nine arrests of individuals suspected of connections with terrorism. It also generated almost 250 “hits” against Interpol databases, including seven linked to Red Notices and nine linked to Blue Notices citing terrorist activities.

Among the operation’s most notable successes were the arrests in Burkina Faso of two individuals wanted by law enforcement authorities, and subject to Blue Notices issued by Côte d’Ivoire, who were involved in terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group JNIM that killed more than ten security personnel in Côte d’Ivoire in 2020.

Notably, Blue Notices are requests between Interpol member countries to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities, in relation to a criminal investigation. These arrests will allow law enforcement officers to further investigate the deadly attack.

Officers in Burkina Faso also arrested a third individual known to have connections to terrorism, who was also the subject of a Blue Notice issued by Togo in 2024 during FIRST (Facial, Imaging, Recognition, Searching and Tracking), another Interpol operation that took place in West Africa focusing on identifying suspected terrorists and requesting follow-up Blue Notices.

In Mauritania, six individuals were arrested over suspected links to a terrorist attack. Mauritania requested the publication of Blue Notices seeking more information on these suspects.

“These cases highlight how the operational support we offer member countries and our unique specialist tools can make the links that identify suspected terrorists and disrupt their attempts to create fear and endanger communities. We are determined to counter these threats and constantly work with our member countries to strengthen global security,” said Cyril Gout, acting Interpol Executive Director Police Services.

Officers in Ghana were also able to free 21 victims of human trafficking who had been held in Nigeria and exploited in connection with fraudulent schemes.

The operation also included checks at harbours and in territorial waters. Interpol said it alerted participating countries about vessels using deceptive shipping practices, such as identity tampering, so-called dark operations, where ships deliberately switch off their identification systems, and frequent flag changes, or “flag hopping”.

Operational seizures included:

17 caches of weapons and ammunition
Explosives, including dynamite and detonators
136 stolen vehicles
731 kg of cannabis
Counterfeit medicine including fake branded opioid pain relief tablets
Counterfeit currency and fraudulent documents

The proceeds from many of these items may be used to finance terrorism or fund organised crime activities, Interpol highlighted. It said the 12 participating countries in the operation were Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

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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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The crackdown targeted transnational criminal networks exploiting digital platforms, particularly social media, to manipulate victims and defraud them financially, Interpol said. Specifically, the operation focused on romance scams, where perpetrators build online relationships to extract money from victims, and sextortion, in which victims are blackmailed with explicit images or videos.

During Operation Contender 3.0 (28 July – 11 August 2025) across Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia, police identified IP addresses, digital infrastructures, domains and social media profiles linked to members of the scam syndicates. These leads and the subsequent arrests also resulted in the seizure of USB drives, SIM cards and forged documents, as well as the take down of 81 cybercrime infrastructures across Africa.

Investigators identified 1 463 victims linked to the scams, estimating their losses at nearly US$2.8 million.

The transnational operation was strengthened by collaboration with private sector partners Group-IB and Trend Micro, resulting in enhanced data sharing and operational capabilities. The exchange of Interpol cyber activity reports facilitated swift enforcement actions from participating countries, underscoring the value of international cooperation in combating cybercrime, Interpol said.

“Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams. The growth of online platforms has opened new opportunities for criminal networks to exploit victims, causing both financial loss and psychological harm. By working closely with our member countries and private sector partners, we remain committed to disrupting and dismantling the groups that prey on vulnerable individuals online,” said Cyril Gout, Acting Executive Director of Police Services at Interpol.

Ghanaian authorities arrested 68 individuals, seized 835 devices and identified 108 victims. Their investigations revealed US$450 000 in financial losses, with US$70 000 recovered. For romance scams the suspects had used fake profiles, forged identities and stolen images to deceive victims. The scammers extracted payments using a range of schemes, including fake courier and customs shipment fees. In sextortion cases, offenders secretly recorded intimate videos during explicit chats and used them for blackmail.

In Senegal, police arrested 22 suspects, uncovering a network that impersonated celebrities and used emotional manipulation on social media and dating platforms to defraud 120 victims of approximately US$34 000. A total of 65 devices, forged identification documents and money transfer records were seized during the operation.

Police in Cote d’Ivoire dismantled a cybercrime ring that created fake profiles online to manipulate vulnerable individuals into sharing intimate images. Once in possession of compromising material, the criminals blackmailed victims, demanding payments to prevent public exposure. Police arrested 24 suspects, seized 29 devices and identified 809 victims.

In Angola authorities arrested 8 individuals and identified 28 domestic and international victims, primarily targeted via social media. Offenders used fraudulent documents to create fake identities, facilitating financial transactions and concealing their real identities while engaging victims.

Operation Contender 3.0 was funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime project.

In June, Interpol released the 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, revealing that two-thirds of surveyed African member countries said cyber-related offences make up a medium-to-high proportion of all crimes.

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“Its manifestations are diverse: drug trafficking, human trafficking, illicit firearms, cybercrime, wildlife crime, money laundering, and terrorism, to name but a few of the most threatening,” Cachalia said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the 27th African Regional Interpol Conference underway in Cape Town, Cachalia said these crimes transcend borders, exploit technological advances and undermine the security of people and the integrity of respective States and economies.

“We are all mindful, particularly, that syndicated crime today is not static. The evolving nature of criminal activities, the emergence of new trends and the use of sophisticated technologies by criminal networks compel us to constantly adapt our responses,” Cachalia said.

Cachalia said dealing with these crimes demands a collective, concerted and focused effort.

“It requires robust strategies, and the concrete implementation of agreed actions at national, regional, continental and global levels.

“We are gathered here to generate solutions that are both strategic and pragmatic; solutions that can be implemented effectively within our countries and within the frameworks of our regional and continental organisations.

“Our deliberations will help to shape a more coordinated African response to transnational organised crime, one that strengthens the security of our borders while protecting the rights and wellbeing of our people.”

Cachalia said South Africa’s participation in the conference is firmly rooted in the country’s constitutional values and long-term national vision.

“Our Constitution enshrines the right of every person to safety and security, and it compels the State to protect and uphold these rights.

“Our engagement in regional and global security cooperation is, therefore, not only a matter of international solidarity but also an essential component of our domestic agenda.”

Cachalia said South Africa recognises that transnational organised crime undermines development and corrodes governance.

“By weakening institutions, fuelling corruption, and diverting resources, it impedes our ability to achieve the aspirations of Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.”

In his welcoming address, National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, said the biennial conference is one of INTERPOL’s most significant regional events.

“It offers us the opportunity to assess crime threats and emerging trends, strengthen INTERPOL’s core capabilities, and reinforce the global policing cooperation that links Africa to all 193 member countries of INTERPOL.”

Masemola said transnational organised crime is evolving with alarming speed.

“Whether it is drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, firearms smuggling, vehicle theft or illegal mining, these crimes exploit borders, weaken governance, fuel corruption and destabilise communities. Behind every crime statistic lies a story of lives shattered, families broken, and communities robbed of their peace.”

The conference is being attended by the President of INTERPOL, Major General Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi; the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Mr Valdecy Urquiza, and Police Chiefs from INTERPOL member countries, amongst others.

The high-level gathering will underscore South Africa’s commitment to regional and international cooperation in combating transnational organised crime, terrorism and other emerging security threats.

It is expected to result in concrete agreements on strengthening regional responses, while also serving as a platform for the exchange of best practices and the deepening of law enforcement partnerships.

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The INTERPOL-coordinated sweep, codenamed Operation Serengeti 2.0, ran from June to August 2025 and brought together investigators from 18 African nations alongside the United Kingdom. In total, authorities recovered USD 97.4m (£76.7m), dismantled over 11,000 malicious infrastructures and targeted crimes ranging from ransomware to business email compromise (BEC).

The operation followed warnings from INTERPOL’s Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, which highlighted the region’s exposure to high-impact online threats.

Large-Scale Fraud and Crypto Crackdowns

Authorities in Angola shut down 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining centres run by 60 Chinese nationals. The crackdown uncovered 45 illicit power stations and equipment worth more than USD 37m, now earmarked by the government to bolster electricity distribution in vulnerable communities.

In Zambia, police dismantled an investment fraud scheme that tricked some 65,000 victims into investing in bogus cryptocurrency ventures. Losses are estimated at USD 300m. Investigators seized domains, mobile numbers and bank accounts, while 15 arrests were made. In a separate case, Zambian authorities uncovered a scam centre linked to human trafficking, seizing 372 forged passports.

Meanwhile, officers in Côte d’Ivoire arrested the ringleader of a transnational inheritance scam operating out of Germany. The fraud, which duped victims into paying fees to claim fictitious inheritances, caused losses of around USD 1.6m. Items seized included electronics, jewellery, vehicles and cash.

Training, Intelligence Sharing and Prevention

The operation was bolstered by intelligence from private sector partners including Kaspersky, Trend Micro and TRM Labs, who provided data on suspicious IPs, domains and command-and-control servers. Ahead of the crackdown, investigators also underwent intensive training in cryptocurrency tracing, open-source intelligence and ransomware analysis.

INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:

“Each INTERPOL-coordinated operation builds on the last, deepening cooperation, increasing information sharing and developing investigative skills across member countries. With more contributions and shared expertise, the results keep growing in scale and impact.”

The initiative also linked with the International Cyber Offender Prevention Network (InterCOP), a consortium of 36 countries led by the Netherlands, which works to detect and deter cybercriminal activity before it escalates.

Global Cooperation

Operation Serengeti 2.0 formed part of the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime, supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Participating countries included Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, alongside European partners.

The results highlight both the scale of cybercrime across Africa and the growing effectiveness of cross-border policing. Authorities say further arrests and asset seizures are likely as investigations continue into international collaborators.

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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 arrests were part of Operation Red Card, an Interpol-led initiative running from November 2024 to February 2025, aimed at dismantling cross-border criminal networks responsible for large-scale cyber fraud. The operation focused on mobile banking scams, fraudulent investment schemes, and messaging app fraud, uncovering over 5,000 victims affected by these illicit activities.

In Nigeria, police arrested 130 individuals, including 113 foreign nationals, in connection with cyber-enabled fraud, such as online casino and investment scams. The suspects allegedly converted their illicit proceeds into digital assets to evade detection. Investigators found that many of those working in scam centres may themselves be victims of human trafficking, forced into fraudulent activities.

Authorities seized 26 vehicles, 16 houses, 39 plots of land, and 685 electronic devices as part of the investigation.

In South Africa, police apprehended 40 individuals linked to a sophisticated SIM box fraud scheme. Officers confiscated more than 1,000 SIM cards and 53 desktops and computer towers. The scam involved rerouting international calls as local ones, a tactic often used by criminals to conduct large-scale SMS phishing attacks.

In Zambia, authorities arrested 14 members of a criminal syndicate that hacked into victims’ mobile phones. The scammers sent messages containing malicious links, which, when clicked, installed malware onto the device. This enabled hackers to take over the victim’s messaging apps and banking applications.

The malware also spread through messaging conversations and group chats, compromising even more victims.

In Rwanda, police detained 45 individuals involved in social engineering scams that defrauded victims of over USD 305,000 in 2024 alone. Criminals impersonated telecommunications employees and falsely claimed that victims had won a jackpot, tricking them into sharing sensitive personal details.

Other scams involved fraudsters posing as injured family members requesting money for hospital bills. During the operation, authorities recovered USD 103,043 and seized 292 electronic devices.

Neal Jetton, Interpol’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, highlighted the success of the operation, stating:

“The success of Operation Red Card demonstrates the power of international cooperation in combating cybercrime, which knows no borders and can have devastating effects on individuals and communities. The recovery of significant assets and devices, as well as the arrest of key suspects, sends a strong message to cybercriminals that their activities will not go unpunished.”

Before launching the operation, participating nations shared intelligence on key targets. Interpol enriched this data with insights from private sector partners, including Group-IB, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro, to track criminal operations more effectively.

The operation was conducted under Interpol’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC), a programme funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

The seven participating countries were Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia

Operation Red Card marks a major step forward in global efforts to tackle cybercrime, reinforcing the need for continued international cooperation to combat emerging digital threats.

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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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General Masemola stated that TOC is no longer confined to specific regions or industries but has become a global phenomenon driven by technology, trade, and finance. Criminal syndicates are using advanced methods such as cryptocurrency, encrypted communications, and deepfake technology to evade law enforcement, exploiting weak regulatory frameworks and jurisdictional gaps. He stressed that combating these networks is no longer an option but a necessity, as TOC threatens security, economic stability, and governance.

While the conference focused on a regional strategy aligned with SADC’s goals, Masemola highlighted that South Africa has been actively disrupting criminal networks through law enforcement operations. He detailed recent successes, including the arrest of four individuals involved in human trafficking who lured victims with false job offers, only to drug and force them into servitude. In a separate operation, SAPS’ Special Task Force rescued 90 undocumented Ethiopian nationals who were being held under inhumane conditions in Sunnydale Ridge, Johannesburg, during a raid that also uncovered a kidnapping-for-ransom operation.

Drug trafficking remains a critical focus, with SAPS having arrested 20 drug mules at OR Tambo International Airport since 2024. In December, a Brazilian suspect was caught with over four kilograms of cocaine in his luggage, while a Paraguayan national was arrested after swallowing 33 cocaine-filled capsules. Intelligence-led operations at Durban Harbour resulted in the seizure of cocaine worth over R80 million, smuggled in paint containers from Brazil and destined for distribution in Gauteng.

Illegal firearms remain a significant challenge, and SAPS has ramped up efforts to remove them from circulation. Recently, 16,049 firearms were destroyed in Vanderbijlpark, including handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Over the past six years, more than 279,000 illegal firearms have been destroyed as part of ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime. Masemola noted that while these statistics highlight major progress, the fight against organised crime requires continuous vigilance and regional collaboration.

Head of Interpol’s Regional Bureau, Sello Moerane underscored the importance of co-ordinated regional responses. He commended South Africa’s approach in broadening the conversation beyond law enforcement to include private sector partners and civil society, reinforcing that TOC cannot be tackled in isolation. The SADC Integrated Strategy to Prevent and Combat TOC aims to establish a structured regional approach, ensuring all member states align their intelligence-sharing mechanisms and enforcement efforts.

A key outcome of the conference is the formation of a National Task Force, which will integrate multiple agencies to improve intelligence co-ordination and cross-border crime prevention. This national effort will contribute to the development of a Regional Task Force, designed to unify responses to organised crime across Southern Africa. The strategy will strengthen data collection and intelligence-sharing, ensuring law enforcement agencies operate with a common understanding of TOC threats.

Recognising South Africa’s role as a regional economic hub, Masemola highlighted the country’s vulnerability to TOC networks seeking to exploit trade infrastructure, financial systems, and governance loopholes. The 2023 ENACT-ISS Crime Index ranked South Africa as the most resilient country in the region but also one of the most targeted by organised crime syndicates. With high-value trade routes and a complex financial sector, the country remains a focal point for illicit activities that require a well-coordinated national and regional response.

The importance of border security was also discussed, with a focus on expanding Interpol’s policing capabilities in Southern Africa. SAPS, through NCB Pretoria, has been urged to enhance database interoperability, particularly at ports of entry, to ensure law enforcement agencies can track and intercept criminal activity more efficiently. Interpol reaffirmed its commitment to assisting in all operational matters, ensuring that the region’s crime-fighting capabilities are fully aligned.

As discussions continue over the next five days, stakeholders are expected to develop concrete recommendations for improving intelligence-sharing, dismantling criminal networks, and strengthening enforcement mechanisms. Masemola stated that fighting TOC is not the responsibility of a single country but a shared global challenge requiring cooperation and strategic interventions. He urged regional partners to remain committed to dismantling illicit networks, protecting economic stability, and ensuring a safer future for all.

The conference marks a critical step in reinforcing Southern Africa’s resilience against organised crime, with a renewed focus on intelligence-driven operations and regional collaboration. Masemola concluded by reiterating that complacency is not an option, and the fight against TOC must be met with unwavering determination, innovation, and unity.

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