INTERPOL Operation Red Card 2.0 Leads to 651 Arrests Across Africa
Summary
INTERPOL says an eight-week operation across 16 African countries led to 651 arrests, recovered over $4.3 million, and exposed scams linked to more than $45 million in losses. Authorities also identified 1,247 victims and took down 1,442 malicious assets.
Key points
- Operation Red Card 2.0 ran from December 8, 2025, to January 30, 2026, under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime.
- INTERPOL reported 651 arrests and more than $4.3 million in recovered assets.
- Investigations linked scams to over $45 million in losses and identified 1,247 victims.
- Authorities confiscated 2,341 devices and took down 1,442 malicious IPs, domains, and servers.
- The operation targeted investment scams, mobile money fraud, and fraudulent mobile loan applications.
- Reported cases included Nigerian fraud rings, a telecom airtime-theft scheme involving compromised staff credentials, Kenyan messaging-based investment scams, and mobile loan fraud in Côte d’Ivoire.
Article Details
- Event Type
- International law-enforcement operation targeting cybercrime and online scams.
- Impact
- Operation Red Card 2.0 resulted in 651 arrests and the recovery of more than $4.3 million. Investigations linked scams to over $45 million in losses and identified 1,247 victims. Authorities seized 2,341 devices and disrupted 1,442 malicious IPs, domains, and servers.
MITRE ATT&CK
People
Countries
AngolaCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.BeninCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Côte d’IvoireNotable disruptions included dismantled Nigerian investment fraud rings, arrests for telecom airtime theft, Kenyan messaging-based investment scams, and Côte d’Ivoire mobile loan fraud busts.CameroonCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.ChadCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.GabonCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.GambiaCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.GhanaCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.KenyaCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.NamibiaCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.NigeriaCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.RwandaCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.SenegalCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.UgandaCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.ZambiaCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.ZimbabweCountries that participated in the law enforcement operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.