Operation Serengeti, a collaborative effort between INTERPOL and AFRIPOL, has successfully cracked down on cybercrime across Africa, resulting in the arrest of 1,006 suspects and the dismantling of 134,089 malicious infrastructures. Over a two-month period, this joint operation targeted some of the continent’s most notorious cybercriminals, leading to significant disruptions in their activities.
With a focus on threats identified in the 2024 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report, including ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and online scams, Operation Serengeti uncovered more than 35,000 victims and linked criminal activities to global financial losses amounting to nearly $193 million. This initiative relied heavily on intelligence-sharing capabilities, with participating countries contributing data that enabled the production of 65 Cyber Analytical Reports, guiding actions against high-value targets.
Private sector entities such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) played a critical role in the operation by sharing intelligence, providing analysis, and patching vulnerabilities to safeguard critical infrastructure across the region. INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza praised the operation’s success, emphasizing that the arrests made during Operation Serengeti will prevent countless future victims from experiencing personal and financial harm. He also highlighted the ongoing efforts to target criminal groups globally.
AFRIPOL’s Executive Director Ambassador Jalel Chelba stressed the operation’s role in enhancing law enforcement capabilities and supporting African Union Member States in addressing emerging threats such as AI-driven malware and advanced attack techniques. The operation’s impact was further amplified by collaborative partnerships with leading cybersecurity firms and support from various international organizations.
The success of Operation Serengeti is evident in several national cases that exemplify its effectiveness. In Kenya, authorities cracked a complex online credit card fraud scheme, resulting in the arrest of nearly two dozen individuals involved in siphoning $8.6 million. In Senegal, a Ponzi scheme orchestrated by eight suspects defrauded 1,811 victims of $6 million, leading to seizures of cash, electronic devices, and SIM cards during a raid.
Similar operations in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Angola resulted in the dismantling of cryptocurrency investment scams, multi-level marketing scams, and virtual casinos targeting Brazilian and Nigerian gamblers, respectively. These cases highlight the diverse range of cybercriminal activities that Operation Serengeti successfully disrupted across the continent.
The operation’s funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, and the Council of Europe, along with contributions from leading cybersecurity firms, demonstrates the value of international partnerships in combating cybercrime. With a continent-wide commitment from 19 African nations, Operation Serengeti sets a benchmark for collaborative cybersecurity initiatives and serves as a model for future operations worldwide.
As criminals continue to exploit emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, operations like Serengeti will remain crucial in safeguarding global digital ecosystems. By leveraging collective resources and expertise, participating countries have shown their ability to disrupt criminal activities and protect victims from further harm, setting a positive precedent for future cybersecurity efforts.