INTERPOL’s Serengeti III Sweep Nets Over $100 Million and Thousands of Arrests Across Africa

INTERPOL announced that its latest anti‑cybercrime drive, Operation Serengeti III, has culminated in 1,462 arrests and the seizure of assets valued at more than $105 million, affecting 21 African nations in a coordinated effort that began earlier this year.

The operation focused on dismantling networks that had victimised an estimated 65,929 individuals through online fraud, ransomware attacks and related financial crimes. Joint task forces conducted simultaneous raids, seized computers, servers and cryptocurrency wallets, and traced illicit proceeds back to the perpetrators, allowing authorities to freeze or confiscate the bulk of the recovered funds.

Serengeti III builds on earlier phases of the INTERPOL‑led campaign, which were launched in response to a sharp rise in digitally enabled offences across the continent. Rapid internet adoption and limited cyber‑security infrastructure have made many African economies vulnerable to cross‑border scams and illicit money‑laundering, prompting the organization to prioritize capacity‑building and information‑sharing among national police services.

Officials highlighted the broader impact of the crackdown beyond the immediate financial loss. By disrupting the command structures of the criminal groups, the operation is expected to reduce the frequency of future attacks and provide a measure of relief to the tens of thousands of victims whose personal data and savings were compromised. The success also underscores the value of multinational cooperation, with participating countries contributing investigators, forensic analysts and legal expertise.

INTERPOL said the investigation remains active, with additional suspects identified and further assets earmarked for recovery. The agency plans to continue supporting African law‑enforcement partners through training, technical assistance and the establishment of regional cyber‑crime hubs, aiming to sustain the momentum and prevent a resurgence of the schemes that prompted Serengeti III.