Interpol operation targeting West African crime networks leads to 58 arrests

In a coordinated operation, law enforcement authorities in 22 countries from 6 continents arrested 58 suspects and identified 263 people with links to West African organized crime groups.

These are the results of Operation Jackal IV, an 8-month-long operation aimed at disrupting cybercriminal activities across dozens of countries.

According to Interpol, these groups are responsible for a significant share of international financial fraud, including romance scams, cryptocurrency and investment scams, and business email compromise.

The most recent law enforcement actions took place in Argentina, South Africa, Italy, and Romania.

In Argentina, Interpol officials identified a major ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) network. A total of 196 suspects ran the operation, providing website domains and money-laundering support to West African organized crime groups such as Black Axe. The investigation led to 17 arrests.

Law enforcement authorities in South Africa raided 7 locations in Johannesburg linked to a syndicate that ran romance and investment scams targeting retirees in English-speaking countries. Officers seized $2.7 million, blocked 257 bank accounts, and arrested 39 individuals.

In Italy, one person was identified for using shell companies in a money laundering scheme. A single account laundered €845,000 across 560 transactions using 20 different financial instruments.

Lastly, in Romania, law enforcement authorities dismantled a group running a sophisticated investment scam that promised victims high returns in stocks or cryptocurrencies. Approximately €143 million was stolen and laundered globally.

“Operation Jackal IV demonstrates the power of international cooperation. By following illicit financial flows across borders, we are attacking the very lifeblood of organized crime and making it increasingly difficult for criminal networks to profit from their activities,” Tomonobu Kaya, Director of the Interpol Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, said in a statement.

Austria, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) participated in Operation Jackal IV.