The recent INTERPOL-led operation, called Operation Serengeti 2.0, was conducted against cybercriminals between June and August 2025, involving investigators from 18 African countries along with the United Kingdom.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 1,209 suspected cybercriminals targeting nearly 88,000 victims across Africa. A total of $97.4 million was recovered, and 11,432 pieces of malicious online infrastructure were dismantled.
Key operational highlights
Key highlights of the operation include the dismantling of 25 cryptocurrency mining centers in Angola, where 60 Chinese nationals were illegally validating blockchain transactions. Authorities confiscated 45 illegal power stations along with mining and IT equipment valued at over $37 million, which the Angolan government plans to use to support power distribution in vulnerable areas.
In Zambia, investigators shut down a large-scale online investment fraud scheme that affected more than 65,000 victims who lost an estimated $300 million. The scheme involved fraudulent advertising promising high-yield returns on cryptocurrency investments and required victims to download multiple apps.
Other notable actions included the disruption of inheritance scams in Côte d’Ivoire causing approximately $1.6 million in losses and breaking up a suspected human trafficking network in Zambia.
The operation focused on high-impact cyber threats such as ransomware, online scams, and business email compromise (BEC), with support from private sector partners and cybersecurity firms providing intelligence and training.
The countries involved
Participating countries included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The operation exemplifies growing cross-border collaboration to combat cybercrime in Africa, leveraging intelligence sharing, private sector cooperation, and international law enforcement coordination to achieve significant disruptions of criminal networks and recover substantial assets.
