Interpol's Africa Cybercrime Operation Recovers Over $105 Million in Illicit Funds, Seizes More Than 2,000 Crypto Mining Rigs

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) reported that Operation Serengeti III was conducted across 21 countries from June 29 to August 31, 2026, resulting in the arrest of 1,462 suspects, the takedown of 10,909 malicious websites, and the seizure of over $105 million in illicit funds. Investigations also confirmed that 65,929 victims were targeted by cybercrime syndicates, with associated losses exceeding $385 million. The operation primarily targeted cyber fraud, ransomware, business email compromise, online scams, and digital extortion. In specific cases, Ugandan police dismantled two transnational fraud rings and arrested 365 foreign nationals; Angolan authorities shut down two illegal cryptocurrency mining farms, arresting nine individuals and confiscating more than 2,000 mining rigs; and another case in Nigeria involved over $2.4 million in suspected illicit proceeds, a significant portion of which was laundered through cryptocurrency transactions.