African-led cybercrime suppression spearheaded by Interpol results in over a thousand arrests, with 1209 individuals being apprehended.

In a significant move against cybercrime, Operation Serengeti 2.0, a large-scale law enforcement operation coordinated by Interpol, successfully dismantled a 1000-person cybercriminal network from June to August 2025. The operation involved participation from 18 African countries, including Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte D'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as well as law enforcement agencies from the UK and several private companies and nonprofit organisations.

The operation resulted in the arrest of 1209 cybercriminals and the dismantling of over 134,000 malicious infrastructures and networks used by these criminals for various scams. In addition, 11,432 malicious infrastructure assets were dismantled, all located in Angola.

The activities of the cybercriminal network included ransomware, online scams, and business email compromise (BEC). In Côte d'Ivoire, law enforcement took down a cross-border inheritance scam originating in Germany. In Zambia, a $300m online investment fraud scheme defrauded 65,000 victims through fake cryptocurrency ads and fraudulent apps. Investigators seized domains, mobile numbers, and bank accounts linked to the scam in Zambia.

Furthermore, in Angola, during the operation, law enforcement agencies dismantled 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining centers operated by 60 Chinese nationals. Authorities confiscated 45 illicit power stations and mining equipment worth over $37m in Angola. The confiscated equipment will now support power distribution in underserved areas.

The operation also prioritized prevention through a partnership with the International Cyber Offender Prevention Network (InterCOP), a 36-nation alliance led by the Netherlands. Beyond arrests, Operation Serengeti 2.0 aimed to protect citizens by providing investigators with information that led to the dismantling of these criminal networks.

In a notable recovery, the operation managed to recover $97.4m in stolen money from over 88,000 victims. Separately, Zambian officials raided a scam center in Lusaka and confiscated 372 forged passports from seven countries, disrupting a suspected human trafficking operation. At least 15 suspects were arrested in Zambia in connection with the online investment fraud scheme.

Operation Serengeti 2.0 was held under the umbrella of the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime, funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). This operation serves as a testament to international cooperation in the fight against cybercrime, demonstrating that when countries work together, they can make a significant impact in protecting their citizens and the global digital landscape.

African-led cybercrime suppression spearheaded by Interpol results in over a thousand arrests, with 1209 individuals being apprehended.