A joint international crackdown led by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL has resulted in multiple arrests in Nigeria, including suspects linked to a $562 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors across 17 countries.
Codenamed Operation Catalyst, the two-month sweep (July–September 2025) targeted financial crimes tied to money laundering and terrorism financing across Africa. It led to 83 arrests in six countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Angola, and helped trace $260 million in illicit funds.
In Nigeria, 11 suspected terrorists, including alleged senior extremist members, were detained. Investigators discovered links between them and a global crypto trading scam connected to terrorism financing. INTERPOL said over 100,000 victims were affected worldwide, and several high-value crypto wallets are now under forensic review.
A Red Notice has been issued for one alleged mastermind accused of stealing $5 million through fake crypto platforms. So far, $600,000 has been seized, with further asset recovery efforts underway.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza hailed the operation as a breakthrough in cross-border policing:
“By sharing intelligence and resources, we can more effectively disrupt financial flows that support terrorist activities.”
Backed by private-sector partners including Binance, Moody’s, and Uppsala Security, the operation highlights growing African law enforcement cooperation against cybercrime and terrorism financing.
