Scams, money laundering… a vast Interpol operation leads to the arrest of hundreds of cybercriminals

2023-08-08 17:43:19

Interpol gives no respite to criminal groups of online scams. An operation carried out in recent months has led to the arrest of 103 people and the seizure of 2.15 million euros in several countries, the organization announced on Tuesday in a press release.

During this operation called “Jackal” targeting organized crime groups in West Africa, such as “Black Axe” (the “Black Axe”), some 2.15 million euros were seized or frozen. The mobilization resulted in the identification of more than 1,100 suspects, and 103 arrests. More than 200 bank accounts have also been blocked.

These criminal groups, violent and mafia gangs have become known for their misappropriations on the Internet: scams via corporate emails, love scams, inheritance scams, credit card or tax fraud, scams prepayment and money laundering.

The fight against these groups, a priority for Interpol

In Portugal, four investigations led to the seizure of 1.4 million euros and in Ireland, 34 people were arrested.

In total, 21 countries participated in the operation: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Ivory Coast, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.

“Operation Jackal” took place between May 15 and 29, says Interpol. In 2022, a similar operation resulted in the seizure of 1.2 million euros and led to 75 arrests.

“The message sent to criminal networks in West Africa is strong: no matter where they hide in cyberspace, Interpol will hunt them down relentlessly. The illegal activities of Black Ax and similar crime syndicates will remain a priority for Interpol,” said Isaac Kehinde Oginni, director of IFCACC, Interpol’s financial crime and anti-corruption center, quoted in the statement.