The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) says 11 high-level members of terrorist groups have been arrested in Nigeria.
The arrests were part of Operation Catalyst, a landmark initiative targeting terrorism financing and related criminal activities across six African countries.
According to INTERPOL, the three-month operation, conducted between July and September 2025, led to 83 arrests and the identification of 160 persons of interest. Participating countries included Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, and South Sudan.
In Nigeria, INTERPOL confirmed that 11 suspected terrorists — including senior members of various extremist groups — were apprehended.
The operation also uncovered several financial networks suspected of funding terrorist activities through illegal transactions and online fraud schemes.
Law enforcement screened more than 15,000 persons and entities, revealing about USD 260 million in fiat and virtual currencies linked to terrorism financing. So far, USD 600,000 has been seized, while further investigations are ongoing to trace and recover additional assets.
INTERPOL said the operation also exposed financial fraud, cyber-enabled scams, money laundering, and the illicit use of virtual assets as major sources of terrorist funding.
Jointly coordinated by INTERPOL and the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), the operation marked a milestone in Africa’s fight against terrorism financing.
INTERPOL Secretary-General Valdecy Urquiza said the collaboration was crucial to tackling the complex networks sustaining terrorist activities.
“Operation Catalyst is the first time financial crime, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism units from multiple African countries have joined forces.
By sharing intelligence, expertise, and resources, we can more effectively disrupt the financial flows that support terrorist activities and keep our communities safe,” Urquiza said.
AFRIPOL Executive Director, Ambassador Jalel Chelba, lauded the success of the operation, describing it as proof of Africa’s united front against terrorism.
“This joint endeavour, dedicated to disrupting the financing of terrorism, illustrates how coordinated action between Member States can address complex and evolving security threats,” Chelba stated.
In other countries, Angola detained 25 individuals and seized USD 588,000, along with 100 mobile phones and 40 computers.
In Kenya, police dismantled a USD 430,000 virtual asset laundering network linked to terrorism financing and arrested two suspects. Another Kenyan case saw two more suspects arrested for using cryptocurrency to recruit youths into terrorist groups across East and North Africa.
A separate cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme affecting at least 17 countries, including Nigeria, was also uncovered. It defrauded victims of about USD 562 million.
Meanwhile, INTERPOL said a Red Notice had been issued for a suspect behind a USD 5 million cryptocurrency scam used to fund terrorism.
Operation Catalyst was conducted under the ISPA Programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, to strengthen AFRIPOL’s capacity to combat transnational organised crime and terrorism.
INTERPOL said investigators believe the illicit funds were laundered through multiple exchanges to conceal their origins and convert them into fiat currencies.
Investigations into the financial networks and assets linked to terrorism financing are still ongoing.
