INTERPOL Traces Money Flows to Break Organised Crime Networks in West Africa

An extensive global operation, known as Operation Jackal IV and coordinated by INTERPOL, has led to 58 arrests and the identification of 263 individuals associated with organized crime syndicates in West Africa, such as the Black Axe.

This operation, which took place from November 2025 to June 2026, covered 22 countries across six continents and primarily aimed at disrupting the illicit financial flows that sustain these multi-million dollar cyber-fraud networks. 

The international sting operation effectively interrupted large-scale money-laundering activities and resulted in significant local enforcement actions, as detailed on the official INTERPOL News Platform:

South African Raids: In Johannesburg, authorities conducted raids at seven locations targeting syndicates involved in romance and investment scams directed at retirees. This operation resulted in 39 arrests, the freezing of 257 bank accounts, and the confiscation of $2.67 million.

Argentine CaaS Crackdown: Law enforcement apprehended 17 individuals linked to a 196-person Crime-as-a-Service (CaaS) network. This syndicate provided website domains and money laundering infrastructure specifically designed to support West African crime organizations.

Romanian Investment Scams: Authorities dismantled a fraudulent call-center network that promoted fake stock and cryptocurrency profits, leading to the arrest of 11 individuals and the seizure of approximately €330,000 ($385,000), along with luxury watches and real estate assets.

 

Italian Shell Network: Investigators uncovered a pan-European money laundering scheme that employed shell corporations and rapid cash remittances. One flagged account was found to have transferred 845,000 euros ($736,000) through 560 distinct transactions.

Instead of managing every aspect of a scam internally, criminal syndicates are increasingly acquiring ready-to-use Crime-as-a-Service (CaaS) solutions from external developers on the dark web to perform specialized functions such as automated money laundering.

  This extensive initiative necessitated efficient, cross-border intelligence sharing, which was coordinated by the INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC). 

The global collaborative network comprised: Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, and South Africa; the United States, Canada, and Argentina; the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, and Switzerland; as well as Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.