Interpol Arrests 1,209 Involved In Illegal Crypto Mining And Investment Scams

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The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has successfully conducted a continent-wide cybercrime crackdown in Africa, targeted against illegal cryptocurrency mining operations, inheritance scams, and fraudulent investments. Coordinated under the code name Serengeti 2.0, the three-month operation ran from June to August 2025, leading to more than 1,200 arrests and the recovery of close to $100 million in stolen funds and confiscated assets.

Operation Serengeti 2.0

According to Interpol’s press release on August 22, investigators from 18 African countries, working alongside the United Kingdom and supported by private-sector partners, dismantled 11,432 malicious infrastructures linked to almost 88,000 victims  of targeted high-impact online crimes, including ransomware, scams, and business email compromise (BEC).

Notably, law enforcement authorities in Angola shut down 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining sites operated by 60 Chinese nationals while also commandeering 45 unauthorized power stations feeding these operations. In addition, officers also confiscated IT and mining machinery worth over $37 million.

Meanwhile, in Zambia, officials uncovered a massive crypto investment fraud with 65,000 victims and $300 million in total losses. The operation led to 15 arrests, alongside the seizure of domains, SIM cards, and bank accounts tied to the scam, which had promised investors sizable returns. Notably, another sting in Lusaka disrupted a suspected human-trafficking network, where 372 forged passports of seven countries were confiscated.

Interpol also reports that the Ivorian police dismantled a cross-border inheritance scam believed to originate in Germany. Unsuspecting victims were deceived to pay fees for fake inheritance claims, generating around $1.6 million in illicit gains. The primary suspect in this case has been detained while authorities seized cash, jewelry, and vehicles, among other valuables.

Commenting on the successful Serengeti 2.0 operation, Interpol’s Secretary General, Valdecy Urquiza, emphasized the importance of cooperation in amplifying results:

Urquiza said:

Each INTERPOL-coordinated operation builds on the last, deepening cooperation, increasing information sharing, and developing investigative skills across member countries. With more contributions and shared expertise, the results keep growing in scale and impact

Operation Serengeti 2.0 was conducted under the African Joint Operation Against Cybercrime with other participating nations, including Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, etc. Meanwhile, private partners of this operation are TRM Labs, Trend Micro, and Team Cypru, among others.

Crypto Market Overview

At the time of writing, the global cryptocurrency market capitalization stands at $3.95 trillion, reflecting a 3.87% increase over the past 24 hours. Daily trading volume has climbed to $157.12 billion, signaling heightened activity across major tokens. Market leader Bitcoin is currently priced at $115,811, while Ethereum trades at $4,700, both maintaining strong momentum amid broader market gains.

 Featured image from Interpol, chart from Tradingview

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