More than $105 million in illicit funds has been recovered during a multinational cybercrime operation that exposed suspected criminal activities across Africa, including an investment fraud investigation in Nigeria involving more than $2.4 million in suspected proceeds.
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) disclosed the figures following Operation Serengeti III, conducted between June 29 and August 31, 2026. The exercise involved law enforcement agencies from 21 countries and resulted in 1,462 arrests, alongside the disruption of 10,909 malicious networks.
Nigeria featured in two investigations highlighted by the organisation. One concerned an alleged international investment scam promoted through messaging applications, while the other involved suspected phishing and business email compromise activities.
In the investment fraud case, financial inquiries traced more than $2.4 million in suspected proceeds, with a significant portion reportedly moved through cryptocurrency transactions. Details about the arrested suspect, the alleged victims and the recovery of funds have not been made public.
The separate Nigerian investigation uncovered a suspected operation involving the collection of software credentials and approximately 2.1 million email addresses. Authorities arrested a suspect and recovered a luxury vehicle believed to have been acquired with criminal proceeds.
SaharaReporters reported the Nigerian cases as part of INTERPOL’s account of the operation, which also identified 65,929 people targeted by cybercriminal networks. Financial investigations linked the criminal activities under scrutiny to losses estimated at more than $385 million.
The operation extended beyond investment and email fraud. Investigators identified suspected illegal cryptocurrency mining in Angola, fraudulent investment and pension schemes in Uganda, a malicious mobile lending application in Tanzania and a vehicle import scam allegedly conducted through social media in Gabon.
INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime, Neal Jetton, said international cooperation was crucial to confronting cybercriminal groups that exploit technology to target victims across national boundaries. Private-sector partners also contributed intelligence and technical assistance to support investigations.
Authorities are continuing to analyse digital evidence, trace suspected criminal proceeds and pursue additional leads arising from the operation.
