58 people arrested by INTERPOL for organized crimes in West Africa and elsewhere

According to INTERPOL, an eight-month international police operation targeting organized crime networks in West Africa and other regions has identified 263 suspects and arrested 58 people in 22 countries.

Nigeria was among the 22 countries that participated in Operation Jackal IV, conducted between November 2025 and June 2026. Other participating countries included Austria, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ivory Coast, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

INTERPOL indicated that the operation aimed to dismantle criminal networks, trace illicit financial flows, identify key suspects, recover the proceeds of crimes and support legal proceedings.

The international criminal police organization stated that the operation was launched in response to the growing expansion of West African organized crime networks, including Black Axe and other groups linked to cybercrime and violent crimes.

According to INTERPOL, these networks have been linked to financial crimes such as romance scams, cryptocurrency and investment fraud, and corporate email hacking. Tomonobu Kaya, director of INTERPOL's Financial Crime and Corruption Centre, said the operation demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in the fight against organized crime.

“Operation Jackal IV demonstrates the power of international cooperation. By tracing illicit financial flows across borders, we are striking at the very heart of organized crime and making it increasingly difficult for criminal networks to profit from their activities,” said Mr. Kaya.

In Argentina, investigators have identified 196 suspected individuals linked to a major "crime-as-a-service" network accused of providing web domain names and money laundering services to West African criminal groups. The investigation has led to 17 arrests.

South African authorities also raided seven locations in Johannesburg as part of an investigation into a suspected romance and investment scam targeting pensioners in English-speaking countries. INTERPOL reported that the South African operation resulted in 39 arrests, the seizure of $2.67 million, and the freezing of 257 bank accounts.

In Italy, investigators have identified a suspect linked to a money laundering network operating across Europe. This network allegedly used shell companies, money transfer businesses, and cash withdrawals to conceal the origin of illicit funds.

INTERPOL reported that a bank account linked to the network processed €845,000 through 560 transactions involving 20 different financial instruments. In Romania, authorities dismantled a criminal organization accused of running an investment scam via a call center and arrested 11 people.

The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately €330,000 in cash and cryptocurrencies, as well as six properties and several luxury watches. INTERPOL stated that investigators believe this network generated and laundered around €143 million globally.

Beyond financial crimes, the operation also revealed a rise in cases of sextortion blackmail targeting minors and involving West African organized crime groups. INTERPOL specified that some victims were as young as 14, with perpetrators using social media to build relationships with them before coercing them into sending explicit images or videos.

The suspects then threatened to release this content to the victims' relatives and family if a ransom was not paid. INTERPOL also highlighted that organized criminal groups are increasingly using crime-as-a-service providers, including dark web operators, to outsource specialized activities such as money laundering.