In a coordinated global crackdown, law enforcement agencies across 21 countries have successfully dismantled sophisticated West African organized crime syndicates involved in extensive online financial fraud. Dubbed Operation Jackal III, this intensive three-month initiative led to the arrest of around 300 individuals and the seizure of assets totaling USD 3 million. The operation targeted notorious groups like Black Axe, known for their involvement in cyber fraud, human trafficking, and drug smuggling, which operate both within Africa and internationally.
The operation’s impact was felt worldwide, with significant outcomes in Argentina, where authorities dismantled a major Nigerian-led criminal network after a comprehensive five-year investigation. Argentine Federal Police seized USD 1.2 million in counterfeit currency, known as ‘supernotes,’ and froze approximately 100 bank accounts linked to the syndicate. This network, utilizing money mules to open accounts globally, is now under scrutiny in over 40 countries for money laundering activities that have victimized more than 160 individuals, causing substantial financial losses.
In Switzerland, law enforcement efforts also bore fruit, resulting in the seizure of cocaine and EUR 45,000 in cash from suspects believed to be part of West African organized crime networks. The operation underscored the role of INTERPOL in facilitating real-time intelligence sharing and database access among member countries, crucial for identifying and apprehending criminals across borders. In Portugal, authorities dismantled a network involved in recruiting money mules and laundering funds through cryptocurrency transactions, underscoring the syndicates’ sophisticated methods and global reach.
Operation Jackal III mobilized a wide array of law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence units, asset recovery offices, and private sector partners from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Nigeria, and Australia. This collaborative effort reflects a pivotal step in combating the growing threat of transnational cybercrime, illustrating the effectiveness of global cooperation in safeguarding financial systems and pursuing justice against organized criminal networks operating on a global scale.
