By [Olusegun Ogunkayode], Osogbo — October 26, 2025
In a major continental security breakthrough, the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has arrested 83 people across six African countries, including 11 Nigerians, for their alleged involvement in terrorism financing, money laundering, and cybercrime.
The arrests, which took place between July and September 2025, followed Operation Catalyst, a coordinated intelligence-driven initiative by INTERPOL, the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), and national law enforcement agencies from Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, and South Sudan.
According to a statement on INTERPOL’s website, the operation was aimed at identifying and disrupting financial networks that fund terrorism and other organized crimes across the continent.
During the two-month operation, investigators screened more than 15,000 individuals and discovered financial transactions worth $260 million (about ₦36 billion) linked to terrorism-related activities. Authorities also seized over $600,000 (₦890 million) in cash and virtual assets.
INTERPOL said the crackdown exposed a complex web of fraud, cyber-enabled scams, illegal trade, and the misuse of virtual assets used to fund terrorist activities across Africa.
Out of the 83 suspects, 21 were linked directly to terrorism-related crimes, 28 to money laundering and financial fraud, 16 to cyber-enabled scams, while 18 were arrested for the illegal use of virtual assets.
According to the report, Nigeria recorded 11 arrests, including high-profile members of various terrorist groups, while Angola led the operation with 25 suspects detained. Angolan authorities also seized $588,000 (₦870 million), 100 mobile phones, and 40 computers, and froze 60 bank accounts connected to the crimes.
In Kenya, 12 suspects were arrested, four of whom are Kenyan nationals. Investigations revealed that some suspects had used virtual asset service providers to channel funds for terrorist recruitment and propaganda across East and North Africa. So far, $430,000 (₦640 million) has been recovered from the Kenyan operation.
One of the most significant discoveries was a cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme spanning 17 countries including Nigeria, Cameroon, and Kenya, which defrauded more than 100,000 victims of about $562 million (₦830 billion). Investigators believe portions of the funds were diverted to support terrorism financing.
The INTERPOL Secretary-General Valdecy Urquiza described the operation as a “turning point” in the continent’s war against terror, believing that it was the first time financial crime, cybercrime, and counterterrorism units worked together under a unified strategy.
“By sharing intelligence, expertise, and resources, we can be more effectively identified and disrupt the financial flows that support terrorist activities and stay one step ahead of these threats,” Urquiza said.
AFRIPOL Executive Director Jalel Chelba commended the collaboration, saying the joint effort demonstrated how African nations can effectively confront complex and evolving security challenges through coordination and intelligence-sharing.
INTERPOL said investigations are ongoing as authorities pursue 160 additional individuals linked to the uncovered networks. The organization emphasized that tackling terrorism financing requires long-term vigilance, given that criminal enterprises increasingly exploit cyber tools and virtual currencies to hide financial trails.
Experts say the operation reinforces the urgent need for cross-border intelligence cooperation and financial surveillance systems to dismantle terror networks before they strike.
Summary of Arrests by Country
Country Number Arrested Key Highlights
Nigeria 11 High-level terrorist financiers arrested
Angola 25 $588,000 seized, 60 bank accounts frozen
Kenya 12 $430,000 recovered, terror recruitment plot uncovered
Cameroon, Namibia, South Sudan 35 Linked to cyber fraud and virtual currency misuse
Operation Catalyst has been hailed as one of the most comprehensive anti-terror financing efforts in African history. By striking at the economic roots of terrorism, INTERPOL and its African partners are setting a new precedent in the global fight against extremism and transnational crime.
