An eight-month INTERPOL operation targeting West African organized crime groups has led to arrests of 58 people and the identification of 263 suspects.
“The operation, which brought together 22 countries from six continents, is a response to the escalating global threat posed by West African criminal networks – such as the Black Axe and other similar groups,” INTERPOL said.
“These groups are responsible for a significant share of the world’s cyber-enabled financial fraud, typically through romance scams, cryptocurrency and investment scams or business email compromise fraud, as well as other serious and violent crimes.”
Countries that participated in the effort include Austria, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.A.E., the U.K., and the U.S.
INTERPOL said the investigation identified 196 individuals for their role in a major crime-as-a-service (CaaS) network that’s believed to have provided website domains and money laundering support to West African organized crime groups. Seventeen arrests have been made in connection with this case.
Authorities also raided seven locations in Johannesburg for allegedly running romance and investment scams targeting retirees in English-speaking countries. The syndicate functioned akin to a legitimate organization, with members assigned the roles of “conversion” or “retention” agents to handle various aspects of the operation.
Another sophisticated investment scam running out of a call center was taken down in Romania. The scheme promised high returns in stocks and cryptocurrency assets and sought to trick unsuspecting users into parting with their money. The funds were then diverted to wallets controlled by the fraudsters, resulting in an estimated €143 million stolen and laundered globally.
Police officials have arrested 11 individuals and seized approximately €330,000 ($379,000) in cash and cryptocurrency, six real estate properties, and several luxury watches.
Elsewhere, one person was identified in relation to a pan-European money laundering network that used shell companies, remittance services and cash withdrawals to obscure fund origins. A single account laundered €845,000 (about $736,000) across 560 transactions using 20 different financial instruments.
The latest effort is the fourth iteration of Operation Jackal, which took place between November 2025 and June 2026. It aims to dismantle money laundering, identify high-value targets, and seize illegal assets associated with West African financial crime.
Hundreds of suspects have been arrested in prior waves –
- Operation Jackal I (September 26 to 30, 2022) – 75 arrests, 49 property searches, and €1.2 million intercepted in bank accounts
- Operation Jackal II (May 15 to 19, 2023) – 103 arrests, 1,110 suspects identified, 208 bank accounts blocked, and €2.15 million seized or frozen
- Operation Jackal III (April 10 to July 3, 2024) – 300 arrests, 400 suspects identified, and more than 720 bank accounts blocked
“Operation Jackal IV demonstrates the power of international cooperation,” Tomonobu Kaya, director of the INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, said. “By following illicit financial flows across borders, we are attacking the very lifeblood of organized crime and making it increasingly difficult for criminal networks to profit from their activities.”
