Mass Arrests Sweep Global West African Cyber‑Crime Networks
Interpol’s Operation Jackal IV, launched between November 2025 and June 2026, culminated in the detention of 58 suspects linked to organised West African cyber‑crime groups across 22 countries and six continents. The multi‑national crackdown was spearheaded by Interpol and focused on romance, investment and sextortion scams that target vulnerable populations, especially retirees in English‑speaking nations.
In addition to the initial 58 arrests, the operation identified 263 other suspects, many of whom were affiliated with the shadowy Nigerian Black Axe network. The investigators traced the syndicates’ complex money‑laundering chains, which exploited cryptocurrency exchanges and email‑compromise fraud to move funds globally.
The operation’s findings shed light on emerging tactics, such as the use of sextortion against minors as young as 14. Interpol’s finance‑crime centre director Tomonobu Kaya noted that “by following illicit financial flows across borders, we are attacking the very lifeblood of organised crime and making it increasingly difficult for criminal networks to profit from their activities.”
Key sites were raided in South Africa, where seven locations tied to romance and investment scams were seized. Local authorities, supported by Interpol specialists, made 39 arrests, seized $2.67 m (≈£1.96 m), and blocked 257 bank accounts.
Operation Jackal IV is part of a series of Interpol operations—previously labelled Jackal I, II and III—that have since 2022 aimed at dismantling Black Axe and its affiliates worldwide. In 2024, Jackal III led to the release of 300 individuals connected to the network.
If the operation had not succeeded, analysts suggest the Black Axe syndicate could have scaled its activities to a mercenary‑style regime, posing heightened risks to global cybersecurity and financial stability. The current crackdown, however, marks a decisive step in curbing cross‑border cyber‑fraud.
Learn more about Interpol’s global efforts
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