According to the international police organisation, the networks are responsible for a significant proportion of cyber-enabled financial fraud globally, with criminal activities ranging from romance and cryptocurrency scams to investment fraud and business email compromise.
An eight-month international operation targeting West African organised crime networks involved in cyber-enabled fraud, money laundering, romance scams, investment scams and other serious crimes has resulted in 58 arrests and the identification of 263 suspects across 22 countries, the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has said.
The operation, dubbed 'Operation Jackal IV,' ran from November 2025 to June 2026 and brought together law enforcement agencies from six continents to disrupt the financial infrastructure of criminal networks, identify high-value suspects, trace illicit funds and support arrests and prosecutions.
INTERPOL disclosed the development in a report published on its website on Tuesday, saying the operation was designed to confront the growing global threat posed by West African organised crime groups, including Black Axe and similar networks.
According to the international police organisation, the networks are responsible for a significant proportion of cyber-enabled financial fraud globally, with criminal activities ranging from romance and cryptocurrency scams to investment fraud and business email compromise.
