1,209 arrested, USD 97.4 million recovered in Africa’s biggest Cybercrime crackdown

September 25, 2025 in Business, Companies, Science and Technology, Technology & Telecoms, Trade & Industry by Editor

Authorities across Africa have arrested 1,209 suspects and recovered $97.4 million in a sweeping crackdown on cybercrime, marking one of the continent’s most significant coordinated operations to date.

Dubbed Operation Serengeti 2.0, the three-month campaign was led by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL, with support from national agencies and private-sector partners, including Binance through the Cybercrime Atlas initiative. The operation dismantled 11,432 malicious infrastructures, disrupted a $300 million cryptocurrency scam in Zambia that defrauded 65,000 victims, and shut down 25 illegal crypto-mining centres in Angola.

In addition, Angolan authorities seized 45 illicit power stations valued at over $37 million, redirecting their output to local communities. These facilities had been diverting vast amounts of energy to sustain illegal mining operations.

The crackdown focused on some of Africa’s most pressing digital threats, including ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), and crypto-related frauds. According to INTERPOL’s Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, these crimes remain the most damaging to businesses and individuals across the continent.

“With more contributions and shared expertise, the results keep growing in scale and impact. This global network is stronger than ever, delivering real outcomes and safeguarding victims,” said Valdecy Urquiza, INTERPOL Secretary General, in a statement.

At the heart of the operation was the Cybercrime Atlas, a World Economic Forum-led initiative that unites more than 30 private firms – among them Binance, Microsoft, and Fortinet – with law enforcement. By pooling open-source intelligence (OSINT), the Atlas enables cross-border investigations and helps map out criminal infrastructures that often exploit jurisdictional loopholes.

The success of Operation Serengeti 2.0 is being hailed as proof of the power of public-private partnerships in tackling fast-evolving digital threats. Experts say the transition from ad hoc collaboration to long-term systemic cooperation is key to sustaining momentum.

For Binance, the operation underscores its commitment to safeguarding digital ecosystems, “fostering a safer digital future requires collaboration, innovation, education, and accountability,” the company said in a statement.

With cybercrime costs projected to rise globally, the operation’s results highlight the urgent need for coordinated, intelligence-driven responses to transnational digital threats.