Interpol has arrested 260 people in a continent-wide operation targeting online fraud, with four African countries singled out as cybercrime major hotspots.
- INTERPOL conducted Operation Contender 3.0, targeting cybercrime across 14 African nations, resulting in 260 arrests.
- Authorities dismantled 81 cybercrime infrastructures and seized over 1,200 devices during the operation.
- $2.8 million in losses were connected to identified victims, with funds partially recovered.
- Private sector partnerships provided substantial technical support and data-sharing capabilities.
Authorities across 14 African nations have arrested 260 suspects and seized more than 1,200 electronic devices in a coordinated Interpol crackdown on cybercrime.
The crimes focused on romance scams and extortion schemes that defrauded victims of millions of dollars and underscored the growing threat of cybercrime across the continent.
The sweep, code-named Operation Contender 3.0, ran from 28 July to 11 August 2025 and targeted transnational syndicates behind romance scams and sextortion schemes.
Police identified IP addresses, domains, digital infrastructures and social media profiles linked to the networks, leading to the seizure of USB drives, SIM cards, forged documents and the dismantling of 81 cybercrime infrastructures across the continent.
The joint operation, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, also uncovered 1,463 victims, whose combined losses were estimated at nearly USD 2.8 million.
Partnerships with cybersecurity firms Group-IB and Trend Micro bolstered enforcement efforts by providing data-sharing capabilities and technical support.
Cyril Gout, Acting Executive Director of Police Services at Interpol, said the surge in digital scams underscores the urgency of global cooperation:
“Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams. The growth of online platforms has opened new opportunities for criminal networks to exploit victims, causing both financial loss and psychological harm.”
“By working closely with our member countries and private sector partners, we remain committed to disrupting and dismantling the groups that prey on vulnerable individuals online.” he added.
Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire lead arrests
Ghana accounted for the largest haul, with 68 arrests, 835 seized devices and 108 victims identified. Investigators traced USD 450,000 in financial losses, of which USD 70,000 was recovered.
According to police, suspects deployed fake courier and customs shipment schemes to extract payments, while sextortion cases involved secretly recorded intimate videos later used for blackmail.
In Senegal, 22 suspects were arrested for operating a network that impersonated celebrities on social media and dating platforms. The group allegedly defrauded 120 victims of about USD 34,000. Authorities confiscated 65 electronic devices, forged IDs and money transfer records.
Côte d’Ivoire dismantled a sextortion ring that coerced hundreds of individuals into sending intimate content, later used to extort payments. Police arrested 24 suspects, seized 29 devices and identified 809 victims linked to the network.
Angola also contributed to the enforcement effort, with eight suspects arrested and 28 victims identified, both domestic and international. The suspects relied on forged documents to sustain fake identities while engaging targets online.
Interpol says the operation illustrates both the scope of cybercrime in Africa and the critical role of international collaboration in tackling it.
By pooling intelligence across borders and integrating private-sector expertise, authorities were able to take down infrastructures, arrest key actors, and protect potential victims.
