83 Arrests in ‘Landmark’ Interpol Operation Hitting Crypto Terrorist Financing, Cybercrime in Africa
A joint operation by Interpol and Afripol, Operation Catalyst, targeted terrorism financing and cybercrime networks across six African countries. Authorities flagged $260 million in illicit crypto and fiat funds and have so far seized $600,000. The operation, conducted from July to September, resulted in 83 arrests: 21 connected to terrorism, 28 to fraud and money laundering, 16 to online scams, and 19 for illicit use of virtual assets. Crypto-related criminal activity was a major focus, including a $562 million Ponzi scheme affecting over 100,000 victims in at least 17 countries. Several wallets tied to this scheme are potentially linked to terrorism financing. In Kenya, another case involved alleged money laundering through a virtual asset provider, also with suspected terrorism links. Private sector partners, including Binance, provided data and investigative support. Interpol notes a rise in crypto-related crimes as adoption grows in Africa, with cyber-related offences accounting for a large share of crime. However, traditional bank transfers and fiat remain the dominant channels in most cybercrime cases.
