An eight-month international operation targeting West African organised crime networks has resulted in 58 arrests and the identification of 263 suspects across 22 countries, as law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to disrupt cyber-enabled fraud and money laundering.
Operation Jackal IV, coordinated by INTERPOL between November 2025 and June 2026, brought together countries across six continents to target criminal networks linked to financial fraud, money laundering and other serious offences.
The operation focused on tracing illicit financial flows, identifying high-value suspects, seizing criminal assets and strengthening investigations that could lead to prosecutions.
INTERPOL said the operation was aimed at tackling the growing international reach of West African organised crime groups, including Black Axe and similar networks, which have been linked to a range of cyber-enabled financial crimes.
These include romance scams, cryptocurrency and investment fraud, business email compromise and other forms of organised criminal activity.
INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre facilitated intelligence sharing and cross-border coordination during the operation, while operational support teams provided analytical assistance and specialised training to participating law enforcement agencies.
Tomonobu Kaya, Director of the INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, said following the movement of criminal money across borders was central to disrupting organised crime.
“Operation Jackal IV demonstrates the power of international cooperation,” Kaya said. “By following illicit financial flows across borders, we are attacking the very lifeblood of organized crime and making it increasingly difficult for criminal networks to profit from their activities.”
South Africa recorded the largest number of arrests during the operation, with 39 people detained following raids on seven locations in Johannesburg linked to romance and investment scams.
According to INTERPOL, the syndicate targeted retirees in English-speaking countries and divided its operations among individuals responsible for different stages of the fraud.
Authorities seized approximately $2.67 million, blocked 257 bank accounts and arrested the 39 suspects.
An INTERPOL Operational Support Team was deployed to South Africa to assist local investigators with intelligence and analytical support.
In Romania, authorities dismantled a criminal group accused of operating an investment scam through a call centre.
The group allegedly attracted victims with promises of high returns from stocks and cryptocurrencies before diverting their money into electronic wallets controlled by the perpetrators.
Investigators estimated that approximately €143 million had been stolen and laundered internationally.
Romanian police arrested 11 people and seized about €330,000 in cash and cryptocurrency, six real estate properties and several luxury watches.
In Argentina, investigators identified 196 people allegedly connected to a major Crime-as-a-Service network suspected of providing website domains and money-laundering services to West African organised crime groups.
INTERPOL deployed an Operational Support Team to Argentina to analyse seized data, identify criminal networks and suspects, and support cooperation with international investigative partners.
In Italy, investigators identified one individual linked to a pan-European money-laundering network that allegedly used shell companies, remittance services and cash withdrawals to conceal the origins of criminal proceeds.
One account was found to have processed approximately €845,000 through 560 transactions, using 20 different financial instruments.
The case illustrates the increasingly complex methods used by criminal networks to move and conceal illicit funds across jurisdictions.
Beyond the arrests and seizures, INTERPOL said Operation Jackal IV also revealed emerging trends in the activities of West African organised crime networks.
One of the concerns identified was the growing use of sextortion to target minors, including victims as young as 14.
According to INTERPOL, offenders typically approach young people through social media, establish relationships or build trust before persuading victims to share sexually explicit images or videos.
The criminals then threaten to distribute the material to the victims’ friends, family or other contacts unless money is paid.
INTERPOL said the investigation also identified instances in which organised crime groups obtained Crime-as-a-Service from external providers, including through the dark web, outsourcing activities such as money laundering and other criminal operations.
The development highlights the increasingly networked nature of cyber-enabled organised crime, where different criminal actors can provide specialised services to larger syndicates.
Nigeria was among the 22 countries that participated in Operation Jackal IV, alongside Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
INTERPOL said many investigations generated by the operation remain ongoing, meaning the preliminary figures could change as authorities continue to analyse evidence and pursue additional suspects.
