18 Nov INTERPOL and AFRIPOL uncover crypto-terror operations across Africa

A landmark security operation has uncovered a sophisticated crypto-terror network spanning across Africa.

The joint INTERPOL and AFRIPOL crackdown has been described by officials as a first-of-its-kind effort targeting terrorism financing through cryptocurrency.

A total of 83 suspects were arrested across six African countries, with 160 additional persons of interest identified.

The operation dismantled fake trading platforms, froze illicit assets, as investigators assert that cryptocurrencies are now integral to the continent’s terror-financing architecture, linking the vulnerabilities of Sahel states, the evolution of online financial crime, and the adaptability of jihadist groups to digital ecosystems.

Known as Operation Catalyst, the crackdown took place from July to September 2025 and involved 17 countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, and Angola.

Authorities estimate that USD$562 million was stolen from 100,000 victims through fraudulent schemes, with USD$260 million of those funds traced directly to terrorism financing, and USD$600,000 seized.

A total of 15,000 individuals were screened, pointing to 21 terrorism suspects, 28 who were implicated in fraud, 16 who were involved in cybercrime, and 18 who were ultimately linked to crypto-related offences.

The operation included a sophisticated system built on fake investment platforms, multiple crypto wallets, and rapid conversions into fiat currency to obscure financial flows.

Retail investors in Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, and Namibia were key targets in this scene, and were often recruited through social media channels and funnelled into Ponzi-style schemes run by informal virtual asset service providers.

INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza shared that Operation Catalyst was the first time financial crime, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism units across multiple African nations jointly targeted the financing of terrorism.

INTERPOL and AFRIPOL are now preparing a second phase of investigations focused on crypto-terror links within the Sahel. Meanwhile, African governments are collaborating on common regulatory frameworks for digital assets.