Interpol Arrests 1K Suspects in Cybercrime Crackdown

Operation Serengeti targets online scams and cyber threats across Africa
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Nov 27, 2024 12:15 AM CST
Interpol Arrests 1K Suspects in Cybercrime Crackdown
People walk on the Interpol logo at the international police agency headquarters in Lyon, France, on Nov. 8, 2018.   (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)

Interpol has successfully apprehended over 1,000 suspects in a sweeping cybercrime crackdown across Africa, according to an announcement by the global policing body on Tuesday. Dubbed Operation Serengeti, this two-month effort conducted with the African Union's police agency, Afripol, focused on perpetrators of ransomware, email fraud, digital extortion, and various online scams across 19 African countries. Valdecy Urquiza, Interpol's Secretary General, highlighted the escalating sophistication of cyberattacks, describing them as a matter of "serious concern."

The operation, which ran from September 2 to October 31, uncovered around 35,000 victims worldwide, tied to roughly $193 million in financial losses. Effective collaboration with local law enforcement and private sector partners, including internet service providers, was crucial to the operation's success. Afripol's Executive Director, Jalel Chelba, underscored the operation's role in boosting law enforcement capabilities within African Union states and noted their growing emphasis on tackling new threats like AI-driven malware.

Significant busts included arrests in Kenya for a credit card fraud ring causing losses of $8.6 million, and eight people in Senegal involved in a $6 million Ponzi scheme. In addition, operations dismantled a human trafficking scam in Cameroon and an illegal virtual casino in Angola. Interpol, operating in 196 member countries, continues to navigate challenges such as rising cybercrime and child sex abuse cases while facing budget constraints compared to other global policing organizations. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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