The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has announced the arrest of 651 suspects and the dismantling of 15 major criminal networks following a sweeping anti-cybercrime operation spanning Nigeria and 15 other African countries.
The operation, codenamed Operation Red Card 2.0, was carried out over eight weeks from December 8, 2025, to January 30, 2026. It targeted sophisticated digital infrastructures used by transnational syndicates to siphon more than $45 million from thousands of victims worldwide.
According to INTERPOL, investigations during the coordinated crackdown uncovered scams responsible for over $45 million in financial losses and identified at least 1,247 victims, most of them based in Africa.
Law enforcement agencies across 16 participating countries worked in concert to execute raids, dismantle criminal hubs and disrupt online infrastructure linked to the networks. Authorities seized 2,341 electronic devices and neutralised 1,442 malicious IP addresses, while domains and servers connected to the syndicates were taken down.
INTERPOL said it provided intelligence sharing, real-time information exchange and digital forensic training to support national authorities throughout the operation.
Neal Jetton, Director of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate, said organised cybercriminal groups continue to inflict serious financial and psychological harm on victims.
“Operation Red Card highlights the importance of collaboration when combating transnational cybercrime. I encourage all victims of cybercrime to reach out to law enforcement for help,” he stated.
In Nigeria, authorities dismantled a high-yield investment fraud syndicate that allegedly recruited young individuals to conduct phishing attacks, identity theft, social engineering and fake digital asset investment schemes.
Investigators reportedly shut down more than 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts linked to the network and uncovered a residential building constructed by the suspected ringleader, which served as an operational hub for the criminal enterprise.
In a separate Nigerian operation, police arrested six members of another cybercrime syndicate accused of infiltrating the internal platform of a major telecommunications provider using compromised staff login credentials.
In Kenya, security agencies arrested 27 suspects linked to elaborate online investment scams. The fraudsters reportedly used messaging applications, social media platforms and fabricated testimonials to lure victims into fake investment opportunities in reputable global corporations.
Victims were encouraged to invest as little as $50 with promises of high returns. They were shown falsified dashboards and account statements to build trust, but withdrawal requests were allegedly blocked once funds were deposited.
In Côte d’Ivoire, law enforcement agents arrested 58 suspects and seized 240 mobile phones, 25 laptops and more than 300 SIM cards in a targeted crackdown on mobile loan fraud.
Authorities said the syndicates exploited vulnerable individuals through deceptive loan applications that promised quick, unsecured credit. Victims were later subjected to hidden charges, abusive debt-collection tactics and unauthorised harvesting of sensitive personal data.
INTERPOL disclosed that the operation was conducted under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC), funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
It added that the Global Action on Cybercrime Enhanced (GLACY-e) project, a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe, also provided operational support.
Participating countries in the operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.