Major Security Operation Led by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL Results in Arrest of Over 300 Suspects in Cybercrime Crackdown Across 25 African Countries
The African continent witnessed a large-scale international security operation that led to the arrest of 318 individuals suspected of involvement in cybercriminal activities. The coordinated campaign, codenamed “Operation Falcon II”, was spearheaded by INTERPOL in partnership with the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), with the participation of 25 countries.
This initiative is part of ongoing global efforts to combat transnational cyber threats, which pose a growing risk to the economic and social stability of African nations.
Wide-Reaching Impact and Concrete Results
Over several weeks, law enforcement agencies in the participating countries conducted intensive raids and digital investigations, with technical support from INTERPOL and AFRIPOL. These operations included monitoring bank accounts, analyzing digital data, and tracking suspicious online activity.
The operation resulted in:
- 318 arrests of suspected cybercriminals
- Seizure of over USD 4 million linked to online fraud
- Dismantling of complex criminal networks involved in financial scams, extortion, identity theft, business email compromise, and romance fraud
Cross-Border Criminal Networks
According to an official INTERPOL report, one financial fraud network managed to illegally transfer more than USD 1.2 million through forged banking transactions to Malawi. Meanwhile, criminal groups in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire were found using sophisticated digital tools to impersonate identities and gain access to the bank accounts of individuals and companies.
A separate report by the BBC highlighted that several gangs targeted emotionally vulnerable individuals, including a suspect in Nigeria who was arrested for running a romance scam by impersonating a foreign soldier or humanitarian worker to manipulate victims into sending money.
Authorities also confiscated a range of digital tools, including:
- Forged bank cards
- Smartphones and digital storage devices
- Malware used to steal login credentials and bypass payment systems
Human and Economic Toll
The damage extended beyond financial losses. Many victims lost their savings or faced emotional and psychological distress due to manipulation and extortion. The BBC report included testimonies from individuals who fell prey to digital traps, often due to a lack of awareness about cybersecurity risks.
INTERPOL officials warned that many of the suspects exploited fragile economic conditions in their countries to recruit new members into these criminal networks, fueling a cycle of cybercrime and digital poverty.
INTERPOL: A Collective Response is Crucial
Following the operation, INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock emphasized that the outcome “demonstrates the importance of international solidarity in combating cybercrime.”
He stated, “Cyberattacks know no borders, and our response must be collective, coordinated, and grounded in information-sharing and expertise exchange.”
Stock also noted that the campaign extended beyond law enforcement actions, including advanced technical training for police officers in the participating African nations to enhance their capacity to analyze digital evidence and track illicit online behavior.
Toward a Comprehensive Digital Security Strategy
This operation forms part of a broader strategy led by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL to strengthen digital security across Africa, especially as internet usage and digital services expand while cybersecurity infrastructure remains underdeveloped in many countries.
INTERPOL confirmed that Operation Falcon II is only the beginning, with further phases of technical support and cooperation in the pipeline to help African nations counter evolving cyber threats and build resilient digital ecosystems.
