At least 72 suspects from five countries and 11 others in Nigeria have been arrested by the International Police for alleged involvement in terrorism-related crimes, financial fraud, money laundering, cyber-enabled scams, and the illicit use of virtual assets.
According to PUNCH Metro, it was gathered on Wednesday that the arrests followed a six-country operation coordinated jointly by INTERPOL and the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation.
According to a statement issued by INTERPOL on Wednesday, the first-of-its-kind operation, code-named ‘Operation Catalyst’, targeted terrorism financing and the illegal activities supporting it, leading to the arrest of 83 suspects across six African countries and the identification of 160 additional persons of interest.
The statement explained that the operation, conducted between July and September 2025, was implemented under the ISPA programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, to strengthen AFRIPOL’s capacity to combat transnational organised crime.
“Of the 83 arrests, 21 were for terrorism-related crimes, 28 for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 were linked to cyber-enabled scams, and another 18 were related to the illicit use of virtual assets,” INTERPOL disclosed on Wednesday.
The agency added that during the two-month operation, authorities in participating countries ”screened more than 15,000 persons and entities”, uncovering about $260m in fiat and virtual currencies potentially connected to terrorism-related activities.
“Approximately $600,000 has already been seized, with additional investigations underway to trace and recover further assets,” the statement noted.
INTERPOL highlighted the growing complexity of tracking terrorist financing, saying it often cuts across “fraud, kidnapping for ransom, illicit trade, Ponzi schemes, and the misuse of virtual assets.”
“These illegal activities can be linked to terrorism financing directly—when terrorist groups receive funds from such schemes—or indirectly, through money laundering or intermediary networks.
“These connections highlight how different forms of crime are increasingly intertwined, underscoring the need for a united and coordinated response,” the statement added.
To address this, INTERPOL said participating countries shared intelligence on major suspects before the operation began, with support from private-sector partners including Binance, Moody’s, and Uppsala Security.
Revealing the details of the arrests, the statement noted that 25 suspects of various nationalities were detained in Angola after investigations uncovered informal money transfer systems linked to terrorism financing and money laundering.
During the operation, the statement disclosed that $588,000 in cash was seized, 100 mobile phones and 40 computers were confiscated, and about 60 bank accounts were frozen.
INTERPOL noted that the operation In Kenya uncovered a money-laundering operation using a virtual asset service provider allegedly tied to terrorism financing.
“The scheme, worth approximately $430,000, involved 12 people, two of whom have so far been arrested,” the statement revealed.
In another Kenyan case, two individuals were arrested for recruiting young people online from East and North Africa into terrorist groups, with the funds for the recruitment traced through a cryptocurrency trading platform to individuals in Tanzania.
“In Nigeria, the operation led to the arrest of 11 suspected terrorists, including high-level members of several terrorist groups,” the statement said.
INTERPOL also disclosed that one major transnational cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme uncovered during the operation affected victims in at least 17 countries, including Cameroon, Kenya, and Nigeria.
“The scheme accumulated more than 100,000 victims worldwide, with an estimated loss of $562 million.
“Investigations revealed that several large-valued wallets were potentially linked to terrorism financing activities,” the agency stated.
The statement noted that a red notice was issued for a suspect believed to be behind a sophisticated $5m cryptocurrency scam, which investigators say displayed traits consistent with known terrorist financing methodologies.
Commenting on the development, INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said the success of Operation Catalyst demonstrates the power of collaboration among law enforcement agencies across Africa.
“Operation Catalyst is the first time financial crime, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism units from multiple African countries have joined forces with INTERPOL and AFRIPOL to target the financing of terrorism.
“By sharing intelligence, expertise, and resources, we can more effectively identify and disrupt the financial flows that support terrorist activities, stay one step ahead of these threats, and keep our communities safe,” Urquiza said.
Also speaking, AFRIPOL Executive Director Jalel Chelba emphasised that the operation underscored the value of unity among African law enforcement agencies.
“The success of Operation Catalyst lies in the synergy and convergence of efforts among national units combating financial crime, cybercrime, and terrorism.
“This joint endeavour illustrates how coordinated action between member states, facilitated by AFRIPOL and INTERPOL, can effectively address complex and evolving security threats.
“Such cooperation stands as tangible proof that Africa’s law enforcement community, when united, offers a decisive and appropriate response in the pursuit of a secure and stable Africa,” Chelba noted.
The development adds to several recent high-profile international crackdowns by INTERPOL.
In September, a British Broadcasting Corporation report revealed that the agency arrested 260 suspects across 14 African countries in a separate operation linked to fraud and cybercrime, which caused estimated losses of nearly $2.8m.
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