INTERPOL’s Operation Red Card 2.0 Nets 651 Arrests, Disrupts $45M African Cybercrime Networks
scsecFebruary 21, 20262 Mins read 
An international cybercrime crackdown led by INTERPOL has resulted in 651 arrests and the recovery of more than $4.3 million in illicit funds across Africa.
The operation, dubbed Operation Red Card 2.0, was carried out between December 8, 2025 and January 30, 2026. It focused on dismantling criminal networks involved in high-yield investment scams, mobile money fraud, and fraudulent mobile loan applications. The initiative was conducted under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC).
Law enforcement agencies from 16 countries participated in the coordinated effort: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Over the course of eight weeks, investigators uncovered scams linked to more than $45 million in financial losses and identified 1,247 victims. While most victims were based in Africa, some were located in other parts of the world.
Authorities seized 2,341 devices and dismantled 1,442 malicious IP addresses, domains, and servers, along with related criminal infrastructure.
Several major cases emerged during the operation:
In Nigeria, authorities dismantled a high-yield investment fraud ring that recruited young individuals to conduct phishing, identity theft, social engineering, and fake digital asset investment schemes. More than 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts connected to the operation were taken down.
In a separate case, Nigerian authorities arrested six members of a sophisticated cybercrime syndicate that breached the internal systems of a major telecommunications provider using compromised staff login credentials. The group allegedly stole significant volumes of airtime and data for illegal resale.
In Kenya, 27 individuals were arrested for running a fraudulent investment scheme promoted through messaging apps and social media. The group used fake testimonials and bogus account dashboards to convince victims of high returns, while blocking withdrawal attempts.
Authorities in Côte d’Ivoire arrested 58 individuals and seized 240 mobile phones, 25 laptops, and more than 300 SIM cards. The suspects were linked to a predatory mobile loan fraud operation that targeted vulnerable individuals. Victims were lured with promises of unsecured loans through fake mobile applications and messaging services, then subjected to hidden fees, abusive debt collection practices, and theft of personal and financial data.
Neal Jetton, Director of the Cybercrime Directorate at INTERPOL, emphasized that organized cybercrime syndicates cause severe financial and psychological harm to individuals, businesses, and communities. He highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration in combating transnational cybercrime and urged victims to report incidents to law enforcement.
Operation Red Card 2.0 follows the first phase of the initiative, which took place between November 2024 and February 2025. During that earlier wave, authorities arrested 306 suspects and seized 1,842 devices.
The latest results underscore the scale of online fraud across the continent and demonstrate the impact of coordinated international action against cybercriminal networks.
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This is an impressive example of international cooperation in tackling cybercrime. The scale of Operation Red Card 2.0 shows how coordinated efforts across multiple countries can dismantle sophisticated fraud networks, recover stolen funds, and protect vulnerable victims from financial and psychological harm. It also highlights the importance of reporting scams and staying vigilant online.