A continent-wide crackdown on cyber-enabled crime has resulted in the arrest of 260 suspects and the dismantling of 81 criminal infrastructures across 14 African countries.
Conducted between 28 July and 11 August 2025, the Interpol-led Operation Contender 3.0 targeted romance scams and sextortion schemes that exploited victims through digital platforms, particularly social media.
According to Interpol, the suspects were exploiting digital platforms—particularly social media—to manipulate and defraud victims. Investigators seized 1,235 electronic devices, including USB drives, SIM cards, and forged documents. Police also identified 1,463 victims, with losses estimated at nearly USD 2.8 million.
“Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams,” said Cyril Gout, Acting Executive Director of Police Services at Interpol. “The growth of online platforms has opened new opportunities for criminal networks to exploit victims, causing both financial loss and psychological harm.”
Also read: INTERPOL’s Operation Serengeti 2.0 Nets 1,209 Cybercrime Arrests, Recovers $97M Across Africa
Country-Level Arrests
In Ghana, authorities arrested 68 individuals, seized 835 devices, and identified 108 victims. Investigations uncovered USD 450,000 in financial losses, with USD 70,000 recovered. Suspects used fake profiles, forged identities, and stolen images to deceive victims, extracting payments through fake courier and customs fees. In sextortion cases, offenders secretly recorded intimate videos during chats and used them for blackmail.
In Senegal, police arrested 22 suspects who impersonated celebrities on social media and dating platforms to defraud 120 victims of USD 34,000. Authorities seized 65 devices, forged documents, and money transfer records.
In Cote d’Ivoire, a cybercrime ring was dismantled after creating fake online profiles to obtain intimate images from victims. Police arrested 24 suspects, seized 29 devices, and identified 809 victims who were blackmailed with compromising material.
In Angola, authorities arrested eight individuals who used fraudulent documents and fake identities on social media. Twenty-eight victims were identified, including both domestic and international targets.
Also read: Interpol’s Operation Red Card: 306 Cybercriminals Arrested Across Africa
Strengthened Cooperation
Interpol highlighted the role of private sector partners in the success of the operation. Group-IB and Trend Micro contributed to intelligence sharing, while the exchange of cyber activity reports accelerated enforcement actions.
“By working closely with our member countries and private sector partners, we remain committed to disrupting and dismantling the groups that prey on vulnerable individuals online,” Gout added.
The operation, funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime project, brought together authorities from Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia.
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