BREAKING NEWS: Interpol busts global crime network, arrests over 300 members

More than 300 members of the Black Axe have been arrested by international police.

The arrested individuals are members of one of West Africa’s most feared criminal networks, Black Axe, and other affiliated groups.

The Black Axe is a secretive criminal network that engages in human trafficking, prostitution and assassination operations around the world. However, cybercrime is the group’s largest source of income.

According to a press release from the organization, the operation, dubbed “Operation Jackal III,” has resulted in hundreds of arrests, the seizure of $3 million in assets, and the dismantling of multiple criminal networks around the world.

Operation Jackal III, which took place from April 10 to July 3 in 21 countries on five continents, targeted online financial fraud and the West African syndicates behind it.

In addition, more than 400 suspects were identified, with more than 720 bank accounts blocked.

INTERPOL Headquarters supports countries by sharing intelligence and facilitating the identification and arrest of suspects.

Operation Jackal III mobilized law enforcement, financial intelligence agencies, asset recovery offices, and private sector partners in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In February 2024, President Bola Tinubu pledged more support to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to strengthen its capacity to tackle digital crimes.

Isaac Oginni, Director of INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC), said: “The scale of financial fraud originating in West Africa is alarming and growing. The results of this operation underscore the urgent need for international law enforcement cooperation to combat these extensive criminal networks.

“By identifying suspects, recovering illicit funds and putting some of West Africa’s most dangerous organised crime leaders behind bars, we can weaken their influence and reduce their ability to harm communities around the world.”

Tomonobu Kaya, a senior official at Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, stressed the importance of financial technology and cryptocurrencies in the operations of cybercriminal organizations known for online scams that generate millions of dollars.

He said: “They are very organized and very structured. These criminal syndicates are early adopters of new technologies… Many fintech developments make it easy to move money illicitly around the world.”

In Argentina, Operation Jackal III saw the dismantling of a Nigerian-led transnational criminal network after a five-year investigation. Federal police seized $1.2 million in “super notes” – high-value counterfeit banknotes – arrested 72 suspects and froze around 100 bank accounts.

The network used money mules to open bank accounts worldwide and is now being investigated in more than 40 countries for related money laundering activities. Suspects include citizens of Argentina, Colombia, Nigeria and Venezuela.
More than 160 fraud victims suffered significant financial losses, some of whom had to sell their homes or take out large loans.

Diego Verdun, head of the Argentine National Central Bureau, said: “Operation Jackal is a crucial step forward in the fight against West African online financial fraud and clearly demonstrates that cybercriminals cannot escape the watchful eye of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries, especially in Argentina.

“By tracking illicit money flows around the world, INTERPOL and the global law enforcement community ensure that these criminals, wherever they try to hide, are relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.”

In another case in Switzerland, action was taken against organised crime syndicates in West Africa that were active nationwide. Cocaine and around 45,000 euros in cash were seized and several suspects were arrested.

Portuguese police have dismantled a Nigerian money mule recruitment network that laundered money from victims of online financial fraud across Europe. More than 25 members of the syndicate were identified in the process.

Data from seized computers and phones revealed large transfers to Nigerian bank accounts, crypto transactions and sophisticated money laundering operations.