Interpol has announced the conclusion of a sweeping anti-cybercrime operation across Africa, resulting in the arrest of 1,209 suspects and the seizure of nearly $97.4 million in illicit gains.
The operation, named Serengeti 2.0, took place between June and August 2025 and involved law enforcement from 18 African countries, working in partnership with the United Kingdom.
The initiative targeted a range of criminal activities, including online scams, ransomware, digital sextortion, and the compromise of business email accounts. Enrique Hernandez Gonzalez, Deputy Director of Cybercrime at Interpol, explained that “these practices, once reserved for technically advanced individuals, are now becoming more widespread thanks to increasingly accessible tools, often powered by artificial intelligence.”
Authorities also dismantled over 11,400 malicious infrastructures, seizing thousands of hard drives, counterfeit passports, and mini power plants used to operate illegal cryptocurrency mining farms. In Angola, 25 such mining operations employing 60 Chinese nationals were shut down, with 45 mini power plants confiscated. The equipment, valued at nearly $37 million, has been repurposed by the Angolan government to provide electricity to rural communities.
In Zambia, investigators dismantled a major cryptocurrency investment fraud network that targeted around 65,000 victims, resulting in estimated losses of $300 million. The scam involved fake investment platforms that stole personal and banking information from unsuspecting users.
Interpol highlighted that cybercrime now accounts for over 30% of recorded criminal acts in West and Central Africa, prompting unprecedented regional cooperation. “We ensure that information reaches the right people,” Gonzalez said, stressing the critical role of intelligence-sharing in coordinating arrests and dismantling criminal networks.
Operation Serengeti 2.0 follows a previous campaign, Red Card, conducted between November 2024 and March 2025, which led to 306 arrests in seven African countries and targeted hacking, mobile fraud, and digital banking abuses. Together, these operations illustrate a continent-wide effort to respond to the escalating threat posed by cybercrime and protect the digital economy.
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