INTERPOL Arrests 58 in Major West African Crime Crackdown

The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) conducted Operation Jackal IV, an eight-month international operation from November 2025 to June 2026, targeting West African organized crime networks, particularly those linked to Black Axe. The operation resulted in 58 arrests and identified 263 suspects across 22 countries.

It focused on disrupting criminal networks involved in cyber-enabled financial fraud, money laundering, and other serious crimes. South Africa had the highest number of arrests, with 39 individuals detained in Johannesburg, linked to scams targeting retirees in English-speaking countries.

Approximately $2.67 million was seized, and 257 bank accounts were blocked. In Argentina, 196 individuals were identified in a Crime-as-a-Service network, leading to 17 arrests.

Romania dismantled a call center scam, resulting in 11 arrests and the seizure of €330,000 in cash and cryptocurrency. The Romanian scam was estimated to have laundered around €143 million globally.

The operation aimed to disrupt the financial infrastructure supporting these criminal networks.