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Major Cybercrime Crackdown in Africa Leads to 1,462 Arrests

Major Cybercrime Crackdown in Africa Leads to 1,462 Arrests

First seen 22 Oct 2026, 10:42 UTC • •
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ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •October 22, 2026 at 12:14 UTC
  • •Operation Serengeti III led to 1,462 arrests across 21 countries.
  • •Authorities recovered over $105 million linked to cybercrime activities.
  • •The operation targeted various scams, including business email compromise and cryptocurrency fraud.

Operation Serengeti III, coordinated by Interpol, disrupted nearly 11,000 cybercriminal networks across Africa from June 29 to August 31, 2026. The operation resulted in the arrest of 1,462 suspects and the recovery of over $105 million in illicit funds. Investigators identified 65,929 victims and estimated financial losses exceeding $385 million due to various cybercrimes, including business email compromise and online scams. Authorities in Uganda dismantled two transnational fraud rings, arresting 365 individuals, while in Angola, nine suspects were arrested for operating illegal cryptocurrency mining centers. Nigerian law enforcement arrested a suspect linked to a phishing operation that harvested 2.1 million email addresses. The operation involved 21 countries, including the United States, and received support from private cybersecurity firms like Kaspersky and Team Cymru.

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Timeline

2026-06-29
Operation Serengeti III commenced
Interpol launched a coordinated effort to disrupt cybercrime networks across Africa.
Helpnetsecurity
2026-08-31
Operation Serengeti III concluded
The operation resulted in significant arrests and financial recoveries from cybercriminal activities.
Helpnetsecurity
2026-10-22
Operation results announced
Interpol reported the outcomes of Operation Serengeti III, including arrests and financial recoveries.
Bleepingcomputer

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Common questions

What types of cybercrimes were targeted?
The operation focused on business email compromise, ransomware, online scams, and illegal cryptocurrency mining.
How many countries participated in the operation?
A total of 21 countries participated, including 20 African nations and the United States.
What was the estimated financial impact of the cybercrimes?
Investigators estimated financial losses exceeding $385 million linked to the identified victims.