INTERPOL Operation Arrests 1,462 Suspects and Disrupts 10,909 Cybercrime Networks
Summary
INTERPOL says Operation Serengeti III, conducted across 21 countries from June 29 to August 31, 2026, disrupted 10,909 malicious networks, arrested 1,462 suspects and recovered more than $105 million in illicit funds.
Key points
- Operation Serengeti III ran from June 29 to August 31, 2026, with law enforcement agencies from 21 countries.
- INTERPOL reported that authorities disrupted 10,909 malicious networks and arrested 1,462 suspects.
- Authorities identified 65,929 victims; financial investigations linked criminal activity to losses exceeding $385 million, according to INTERPOL.
- Group-IB said it provided threat intelligence on phishing kits, botnets and other malicious resources hosted in Africa or used to target the region.
- The operation recovered more than $105 million in illicit funds.
- The operation follows two earlier waves in 2024 and 2025, which INTERPOL said led to more than 2,000 arrests.
Article Details
- Event Type
- International law enforcement cybercrime operation
- Impact
- Operation Serengeti III disrupted 10,909 malicious networks, arrested 1,462 suspects, identified 65,929 victims, and recovered more than $105 million in illicit funds. Financial investigations linked the criminal activity to losses exceeding $385 million.
People
Vendors
Group-IBGroup-IB, which was one of the many private sector partners, said it provided INTERPOL with threat intelligence data on phishing kits, botnets, and other malicious resources hosted in Africa or used to conduct cyberTeam Cymruopportunities to find them," said Jacomo Piccolini, vice president of Global Data Partnerships at Team Cymru.
Countries
AngolaParticipating nations included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda,BeninParticipating nations included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda,CameroonParticipating nations included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda,CongoParticipating nations included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda,Côte d'IvoireParticipating nations included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda,Democratic Republic of CongoParticipating nations included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda,Eswatininations included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda,Gabonnations included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, UnitedGambiaincluded 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,GhanaAngola, 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, andKenyaBenin, 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.MozambiqueCameroon, 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.NigeriaCongo, 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.RwandaCôte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.SenegalDemocratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.South AfricaRepublic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Tanzaniaof Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.UgandaEswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.United StatesGabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.ZambiaGhana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.ZimbabweKenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.