In Operation Jackal IV, Interpol and partner agencies detained 58 people linked to organised West African cyber‑crime networks across 22 countries on six continents.
Co‑ordinated by the global policing agency, the operation targeted romance and investment scams and identified 263 suspects in total. It aimed to respond to the escalating threat posed by groups such as the feared Nigerian Black Axe, believed to be responsible for a significant share of cyber‑fraud worldwide.
Investigation revealed that these networks also use sextortion to target minors, with victims as young as 14. Interpol highlighted the role of illicit financial flows through money‑laundering as the lifeblood of these organisations.
Key actions included arrests in Argentina, Italy, Romania and South Africa. In Johannesburg, authorities raided seven sites linked to romance and investment scams, produced 39 arrests, seized $2.67 million and blocked 257 bank accounts.
“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,” said Tomonobu Kaya, director of Interpol’s financial crime centre.
Operation Jackal IV demonstrates the power of international cooperation and the importance of specialised training for money‑laundering investigations. This is the latest in a series of “Jackal” operations launched since 2022, the previous being Jackal III in 2024, which resulted in 300 arrests linked to Black Axe and affiliates.
Black Axe is a shadowy network involved in trafficking, prostitution and violent crime. It recruits in Nigeria, often targeting university students for induction during their schooling.
