An international operation targeting organised West African crime networks has resulted in 58 arrests and the identification of 263 suspects across 22 countries and six continents, highlighting the growing global threat from cyber-enabled financial crime.
Operation Jackal IV, co-ordinated by INTERPOL, was conducted between November 2025 and June 2026. The eight-month operation focused on disrupting money laundering, identifying key suspects, seizing criminal assets and supporting investigations and prosecutions.
Romance and investment scams under the spotlight
The operation targeted criminal networks linked to romance scams, cryptocurrency and investment fraud, business email compromise and other forms of cyber-enabled financial crime.
In South Africa, authorities raided seven locations in Johannesburg linked to a syndicate that allegedly targeted retirees in English-speaking countries through romance and investment scams. Police arrested 39 people, seized USD 2.67 million and blocked 257 bank accounts.
Romanian authorities also dismantled a group operating an investment scam through a call centre. Investigators estimated that around EUR 143 million had been stolen and laundered globally, while 11 people were arrested.
Sextortion of minors raises fresh concern
One of the most troubling trends identified during the operation was the growing use of sextortion against minors.
INTERPOL said some West African criminal groups were targeting children through social media, gaining their trust before coercing them into sharing explicit images or videos. Victims were as young as 14.
The criminals then threatened to distribute the material unless money was paid, adding another serious dimension to the cybercrime threat.
International action targets criminal money flows
The operation also uncovered the use of so-called Crime-as-a-Service providers, with some criminal groups outsourcing activities such as money laundering through external networks and dark-web services.
INTERPOL said international intelligence sharing and co-ordination were central to the operation, allowing investigators to follow illicit financial flows across borders.
Operation Jackal IV demonstrates how organised cybercrime can operate across jurisdictions and exploit both digital platforms and international financial systems. The findings underline the need for stronger co-operation, public awareness and coordinated action to protect vulnerable victims from increasingly sophisticated scams.