{"id":31221,"date":"2026-08-26T04:48:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T08:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=31221"},"modified":"2026-08-26T04:48:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T08:48:35","slug":"mass-arrests-in-global-crackdown-on-west-african-cyber-crime-networks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2026\/08\/26\/mass-arrests-in-global-crackdown-on-west-african-cyber-crime-networks\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass arrests in global crackdown on West African cyber-crime networks"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\" data-block=\"text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\"><b class=\"ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">Fifty-eight people linked to organised West African cyber-crime groups have been arrested in an operation across 22 countries and six continents.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Dubbed &#8220;Operation Jackal IV&#8221;, it was co-ordinated by the global policing agency Interpol, targeting those behind romance and investment scams. It also identified 263 suspects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Interpol said it was a response to the escalating global threat posed by these criminal networks &#8211; such as the feared Nigerian Black Axe group &#8211; believed to be behind a &#8220;significant share&#8221; of cyber-enabled financial fraud.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The operation also allowed analysis of emerging trends such as how these groups use sextortion to target minors, with victims as young as 14.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\" data-block=\"links\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<ul class=\"ssrcss-94r6ik-Stack e1y4nx260\" role=\"list\">\n<li class=\"ssrcss-qzx51b-LinkItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-7zrqh4-LinkHeadline e3eyuya4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-africa-59614595\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">The ultra-violent cult that became a global mafia<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\" data-block=\"text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Operation Jackal IV &#8211; which took place between November 2025 and June 2026 &#8211; investigated how the groups laundered money and how financial fraud cyber crimes, such as cryptocurrency and email compromise fraud, were conducted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Scams often targeted &#8220;retirees in English-speaking countries&#8221;, Interpol said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;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,&#8221; Tomonobu Kaya, director of Interpol&#8217;s financial crime centre, said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;Operation Jackal IV demonstrates the power of international co-operation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">During the operation, Interpol helped with cross-border co-ordination and intelligence sharing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">It also provided support and specialised training for money-laundering investigations with the participating countries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Interpol said many aspects of Jackal IV remained under investigation but preliminary outcomes included arrests in Argentina, Italy, Romania and South Africa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In South Africa, seven sites linked to a syndicate involved in romance and investment scams were raided.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The policing agency was on scene in Johannesburg to support local authorities during the raids.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">South African police made 39 arrests, seized $2.67m (\u00a31.96m) and blocked 257 bank accounts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">As well as cyber-enabled fraud, the West African networks also participated in other serious and violent crimes, Interpol said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Operation Jackal IV is one of multiple &#8220;Jackal&#8221; police operations that have taken place since 2022.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In 2024,\u00a0<a class=\"ssrcss-1e0jzsh-InlineLink e1kn3p7n0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c984w8jr1glo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jackal III<\/a>\u00a0led to the arrests of 300 people linked to Black Axe and other affiliated groups.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Black Axe is a shadowy criminal network with trafficking, prostitution and killing operations around the world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Nigeria is its main recruitment ground and many of its members are university educated and inducted during their schooling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\" data-block=\"links\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<ul class=\"ssrcss-94r6ik-Stack e1y4nx260\" role=\"list\">\n<li class=\"ssrcss-qzx51b-LinkItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-7zrqh4-LinkHeadline e3eyuya4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c2llzppyx05o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Dead in 6 hours: How Nigerian sextortion scammers targeted my son<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-qzx51b-LinkItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-7zrqh4-LinkHeadline e3eyuya4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-africa-63542573\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Notorious Instagram influencer jailed for fraud<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-qzx51b-LinkItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-7zrqh4-LinkHeadline e3eyuya4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-africa-49759392\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Why Nigerian cyber fraudsters are &#8216;role models&#8217;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cq5xdnxppl4o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\" data-block=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1uy5kw5-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-testid=\"image\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-cl6197-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/a743\/live\/681bd460-6ee0-11f1-8e1d-bbbb1017d210.png.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/a743\/live\/681bd460-6ee0-11f1-8e1d-bbbb1017d210.png.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/a743\/live\/681bd460-6ee0-11f1-8e1d-bbbb1017d210.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/a743\/live\/681bd460-6ee0-11f1-8e1d-bbbb1017d210.png.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/a743\/live\/681bd460-6ee0-11f1-8e1d-bbbb1017d210.png.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/a743\/live\/681bd460-6ee0-11f1-8e1d-bbbb1017d210.png.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\">Fifty-eight people linked to organised West African cyber-crime groups have been arrested in an operation across 22 countries and six continents. Dubbed &#8220;Operation Jackal IV&#8221;, it was co-ordinated by the global policing agency Interpol, targeting <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2026\/08\/26\/mass-arrests-in-global-crackdown-on-west-african-cyber-crime-networks\/\" title=\"Mass arrests in global crackdown on West African cyber-crime networks\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6],"tags":[932,10320,4686,4835,9383,12878,9951,2115,3479,12879,1468,6921,1484,2349,10072,12877,4247,5180,10388,977,12106],"class_list":["post-31221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","category-world","tag-argentina","tag-black-axe-gang","tag-cryptocurrency","tag-cyber-crime","tag-cyber-fraud","tag-email-compromise-fraud","tag-financial-fraud","tag-human-trafficking","tag-interpol","tag-investment-scam","tag-italy","tag-johannesburg","tag-money-laundering","tag-nigeria","tag-online-romance-scam","tag-operation-jackal-iv","tag-prostitution","tag-romania","tag-sextortion","tag-south-africa","tag-west-africa","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31221"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31222,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31221\/revisions\/31222"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}