Key Takeaways
- Operation Serengeti III results: 1,462 arrests and more than $105 million recovered across 21 countries, according to Interpol
- Operation Serengeti III dates and targets: 29 June to 31 August 2026, covering ransomware, business email compromise (a scam in which criminals impersonate a trusted sender to trick staff into sending money) and online scams
- Angola crypto mining sites: two illegal centers dismantled, nine suspects arrested and more than 2,000 mining devices seized
- Recovery per arrest: more than $71,800, WYDE's arithmetic on the totals Interpol published
Interpol said on 22 October 2026 that Operation Serengeti III, a cybercrime operation that ran from 29 June to 31 August 2026, led to 1,462 arrests in 21 countries and recovered more than $105 million in illicit funds. The release calls it one of Africa's largest cybercrime enforcement operations.
The operation targeted cyber-enabled fraud, ransomware, business email compromise, online scams and digital extortion. Authorities identified 65,929 victims, and financial investigations linked the criminal activity to losses exceeding $385 million. INTERPOL's African Cyber Threat Assessment Report 2026 says artificial intelligence is increasingly enabling cybercrime across the continent. Decrypt reported the same arrest and recovery totals. WYDE's arithmetic: $105 million divided by 1,462 arrests is $71,819 per arrest.
Neal Jetton, INTERPOL's Director of Cybercrime, said: "Cybercrime networks operate without regard for borders, exploiting technology to target victims on an unprecedented scale." The release continues: "Operation Serengeti III reinforces a clear message: while cybercrime is increasingly borderless, international cooperation remains one of the most effective tools for disrupting criminal networks, recovering criminal assets and protecting communities from digital harm."
Operation Serengeti III Case Details by Country
The release highlights Uganda first, where authorities arrested 365 foreign nationals. Authorities there dismantled two transnational fraud rings and arrested 365 foreign nationals linked to online investment and pension fraud schemes that targeted victims across Asia. Investigators uncovered a rotating call-center model that used fake trading platforms and fraudulent websites to deceive pensioners into investing in non-existent opportunities.
Elsewhere, authorities dismantled a malicious mobile loan application scheme in Tanzania and disrupted a social media-based vehicle import fraud network in Gabon. In the Republic of Congo, 30 suspects were arrested in connection with a cybercrime operation.
Angola Crypto Mining Shutdown and Nigeria Fraud Arrests
In Angola, investigators dismantled two illegal cryptocurrency mining centers and arrested nine suspects. They seized more than 2,000 cryptocurrency mining devices, along with six illegal power transformation stations. The release puts the seized electrical infrastructure alone at more than $1 million.
In Nigeria, a suspect was arrested over a phishing and business email compromise operation that harvested software credentials and amassed approximately 2.1 million email addresses. A separate Nigerian investigation targeted an investment fraud scheme promoted through messaging apps and led to one arrest. Financial investigations revealed more than $2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds, much of it laundered through crypto transactions.
Recovery per Arrest Across the Whole Operation
Dividing the recovery by the arrest count produces a figure that neither the release nor Decrypt printed. WYDE's arithmetic: $105 million divided by 1,462 arrests is $71,819 per arrest. Interpol's recovery figure is a minimum, more than $105 million, so the true average is higher than $71,800. The average describes the operation as a whole, not what any single case or suspect yielded.
Related WYDE coverage: US Seizes More Than $25 Million in Crypto Tied to Romance and Investment Scams and DOJ Seizes Huione Group Cloud Account Tied to Billions in Crypto Laundering.
The release says several investigations from the operation remain active, and authorities continue to trace proceeds and analyze seized digital evidence.
People Also Ask
How many arrests did Operation Serengeti III make?
Operation Serengeti III led to 1,462 arrests, according to Interpol. Law enforcement agencies from 21 countries took part in the operation, which ran from 29 June to 31 August 2026.
How much money did Operation Serengeti III recover?
Interpol says Operation Serengeti III recovered more than $105 million in illicit funds. Financial investigations linked the criminal networks to losses exceeding $385 million.
Which countries took part in Operation Serengeti III?
Twenty of the 21 participating countries are in Africa. The countries that took part were Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
What did Operation Serengeti III find in Angola?
Investigators in Angola dismantled two illegal cryptocurrency mining centers and arrested nine suspects. They seized more than 2,000 mining devices.