Interpol says its latest operation across Africa led to 1,462 arrests and the recovery of more than $105 million in illicit funds. Called Operation Serengeti III, it is the biggest edition yet of an annual Africa-focused crackdown, and it shows how organized online fraud has become.
The numbers
Police in 21 countries took part, and the operation ran from 29 June to 31 August 2026. It also took down 10,909 malicious networks. Investigators linked the networks to losses above $385 million and 65,929 victims of fraud, ransomware, business email compromise, online scams and digital extortion.
Twenty of the countries were African, and the 21st was the United States. Participants included Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Gabon and Angola, among others. The trend is upward. Serengeti I in 2024 produced 1,006 arrests, and the 2025 edition 1,209.
Uganda: the scam call centre
The most striking action was in Uganda, where authorities broke up two international fraud networks and arrested 365 foreign nationals.
They were suspected of running online investment and pension scams aimed at people across Asia, using call centres where staff followed prepared scripts to push victims into fake trading platforms. Uganda accounted for about a quarter of all arrests.
The victims were in Asia, not Uganda. Africa is increasingly the base from which crime is run, not just a place where victims live. The East African notes that Interpol did not disclose the arrested suspects' nationalities, the alleged organisers or the money tied to the two schemes, and that questions remain over how the networks set up and recruited there.
Other fronts
According to the DW Africa report, investigators also uncovered fraud schemes in Nigeria, fraudulent mobile loan schemes in Tanzania and a vehicle import scam in Gabon.
In Angola, authorities shut down illegal cryptocurrency mining operations, which Interpol's own images show as an illegal cryptocurrency mining facility. Interpol also noted that criminals are using artificial intelligence to make scams more convincing, and several investigations are still underway.
What it means for West Africa
For Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Benin and The Gambia, all participants, the lessons are practical:
Arrests are not convictions. Analysts note that the 1,462 people arrested remain suspects, and no convictions have been reported. The test is prosecution, asset forfeiture and returning money to victims.
Foreign-run schemes use African soil. Weak company registration, immigration checks and telecom oversight make it easier for foreign syndicates to set up call centres.
Private-sector intelligence matters. Firms such as Group-IB, Kaspersky, Fortinet, Team Cymru and Meta helped identify targets and map the networks. Africa needs its own capacity so that it is not dependent on outside firms.
AI raises the stakes. Public awareness campaigns, in English, Hausa and other local languages, must keep pace with more convincing scams.
Cooperation must be permanent. Annual sweeps help, but cross-border cybercrime needs standing joint units, shared evidence rules and quicker extradition.
Interpol coordinates but does not arrest. The real work falls to national police, prosecutors and courts, and that is where the results will be judged.
Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/Science communicator, Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,United States Institute of Peace (USIP), [email protected] +233555275880
Sources
Help Net Security (22 Oct 2026). "Africa cybercrime crackdown nets 1,462 arrests and over $105 million." https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2026/10/22/interpol-africa-cybercrime-crackdown-operation-serengeti-iii/
The EastAfrican. "Uganda accounts for quarter of cybercrime arrests: Interpol." https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/uganda-accounts-for-quarter-of-cybercrime-arrests-interpol-5642186
Security Affairs. "INTERPOL Operation Serengeti III nets 1,462 arrests and recovers $105 million." https://securityaffairs.com/201500/cyber-crime/interpol-operation-serengeti-iii-nets-1462-arrests-and-recovers-105-million-in-cybercrime-crackdown.html
Group-IB press release via Zawya. "Group-IB supports INTERPOL's Operation Serengeti III" (participating countries list). https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/interpols-operation-serengeti-iii-leading-to-1462-arrests-across-africa-and-over-105mln-recovered-1847853
Bitdefender, Hot for Security. "Operation Serengeti III sees 1,462 arrests." https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/operation-serengeti-iii-cybercrime-arrests
Ogun Security. "Operation Serengeti III: 1,462 Arrests, $105 Million Recovered, and What It Means for Africa's Cyber Defense." https://www.ogunsecurity.com/post/interpol-s-operation-serengeti-iii-1-462-arrests-105-million-recovered-and-what-it-means-for-afr
SecurityOnline. "Operation Serengeti III Leads to 1,462 Arrests and USD 105 Million Recovered Across Africa." https://securityonline.info/operation-serengeti-iii-africa/
DW Africa report on the Interpol operation (as supplied).
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