Brinztech Cyber News: INTERPOL’s Operation Serengeti 2.0 Dismantles Major African Cybercrime Networks

Key Takeaways

• An INTERPOL-led operation from June to August 2025 has resulted in 1,209 arrests of suspected cybercriminals across Africa.
• A total of $97.4 million in illicit funds were recovered.
• 11,432 malicious infrastructures, including command-and-control (C2) servers and malicious domains, were identified and taken down.
• The operation involved law enforcement from 18 African countries and the United Kingdom, with crucial support from private sector cybersecurity partners.
• The primary targets were high-impact financial cybercrimes, including ransomware, Business Email Compromise (BEC), and online scams.

Operation Serengeti 2.0: A Coordinated Crackdown on African Cybercrime

In a major blow to cybercrime networks operating across Africa, a sweeping, INTERPOL-coordinated effort named “Operation Serengeti 2.0” has dismantled numerous criminal operations and recovered nearly $100 million. The operation, which ran from June to August 2025, highlights a new level of cross-border cooperation in the fight against digital crime.

The crackdown focused on the top cyber threats identified in INTERPOL’s recent Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, including sophisticated ransomware operations, widespread online scams, and lucrative Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes. The operation’s success was a direct result of a multi-faceted strategy combining intelligence sharing, specialized training, and a strong public-private partnership.

A Blueprint for Success: Public-Private Partnership and Intelligence Sharing

The effectiveness of Operation Serengeti 2.0 was built on a foundation of proactive collaboration and preparation. Ahead of the operational phase, INTERPOL shared critical intelligence with the 18 participating African countries and the UK. This included:

• Suspicious IP addresses linked to criminal activity.
• Known malicious domains used for phishing and malware distribution.
• The locations of command-and-control (C2) servers used to manage attacks.

Furthermore, investigators attended specialized workshops to bolster their technical capabilities, with training focused on:

• Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering tools.
• Investigative techniques for tracking cryptocurrency transactions.
• In-depth ransomware analysis.

This preparation, combined with intelligence and guidance from private sector partners, allowed law enforcement on the ground to effectively identify, locate, and dismantle the complex cybercriminal networks.

Key Cybersecurity Implications

• The Power of International Cooperation: This operation is a clear demonstration that large-scale, borderless cybercrime can only be effectively countered through coordinated international law enforcement action. The central role of INTERPOL in uniting the efforts of 19 different countries was essential to the mission’s success.
• The Vital Role of Public-Private Partnerships: Law enforcement cannot fight cybercrime in a vacuum. The intelligence, resources, and specialized expertise of private cybersecurity firms are crucial for tracking threat actors, analyzing malware, and understanding the evolving criminal landscape.
• A Focus on High-Impact Financial Crimes: The operation’s specific targeting of BEC, ransomware, and other scams shows that global law enforcement is prioritizing the cybercrimes that cause the most significant and direct financial harm to both individuals and businesses.

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