A cross-border investigation into West African criminal groups scamming internet users has resulted in more than 100 arrests and the seizure of over 2 million euros, Interpol said on Tuesday.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation Jackal”, was led by law enforcement agencies in May across 21 countries on six continents and targeted cybercrime groups such as the Nigerian criminal gang “Black Axe,” the international policing organisation said in a statement.
Black Axe, and an increasing number of other West African organized crime syndicates, is a violent mafia-style gang renowned for cyber-enabled financial fraud, in particular, business email compromise schemes, romance scams, inheritance scams, credit card fraud, tax fraud, advance payment scams and money laundering.
More than 200 bank accounts linked to the illicit proceeds of online financial crime were blocked during the operation and several kingpins arrested whose crime networks are considered a serious global security threat.
Director of Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-corruption Centre (IFCACC), Isaac Kehinde Oginni, said of the criminal groups,“ No matter where they hide in cyberspace, Interpol will pursue them relentlessly,”
Between 15 and 29 May, 2.15 million euros were frozen or seized, 103 people were arrested, 1,110 suspects were identified and 208 bank accounts were blocked.
A similar operation took place in 2022 and resulted in the interception of 1.2 million euros and 75 arrests.