Dakar | In one of the most extensive cybercrime enforcement actions ever carried out in Africa, law enforcement agencies across 19 countries, coordinated by INTERPOL, have arrested 574 suspects and recovered nearly ₹25 crore in illicit proceeds. The month-long operation, dubbed ‘Operation Sentinel’, was conducted between October 27 and November 27.
According to INTERPOL, the operation focused on three rapidly growing cyber threats in the African region—Business Email Compromise (BEC), digital extortion, and ransomware—all identified as high-risk threats in INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report.
Key Outcomes of the Operation
- More than 6,000 malicious links neutralised
- Six distinct ransomware variants successfully decrypted
- Estimated losses exceeding ₹175 crore uncovered during investigations
Swift Action and International Cooperation
In Senegal, authorities foiled an advanced BEC scheme targeting a major petroleum company, preventing a fraudulent wire transfer of nearly ₹65 crore after swiftly freezing the destination bank accounts.
In Ghana, investigators responded to a ransomware attack on a financial institution that had encrypted around 100 terabytes of data. Using advanced malware analysis, officials developed a decryption tool that restored approximately 30 terabytes of data, leading to multiple arrests.
A separate operation dismantled a large Ghana–Nigeria cyber-fraud network that targeted over 200 victims, defrauding them of around ₹3.3 crore through fake websites and mobile apps impersonating well-known fast-food brands. The crackdown resulted in 10 arrests, the seizure of over 100 digital devices, and the shutdown of 30 fraudulent servers.
In Benin, authorities took down 43 malicious domains and more than 4,300 social media accounts linked to online extortion and scams, leading to 106 arrests.
In Cameroon, rapid investigative work traced a phishing operation linked to online vehicle sales fraud. An emergency bank freeze was imposed within hours, preventing further financial losses.
INTERPOL’s Statement
INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime, Neal Jetton, said ‘Operation Sentinel’ played a critical role in protecting livelihoods, securing sensitive personal data, and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
“The scale and sophistication of cyberattacks across Africa are increasing rapidly, particularly in vital sectors such as finance and energy. This operation demonstrates what can be achieved through strong international cooperation,” he said.
Role of the Private Sector
The operation was made possible through close collaboration with private-sector partners, including Team Cymru, The Shadowserver Foundation, Trend Micro, TRM Labs, and Uppsala Security. These organisations provided crucial technical support in IP address tracing, malware and network analysis, and the freezing of illicit financial assets linked to cybercrime operations.
The Bigger Message
Experts say the operation sends a powerful global signal that cross-border cybercrime networks are no longer beyond reach. As digital threats grow in scale and complexity, rapid intelligence sharing, technical expertise, and coordinated international action are emerging as the most effective tools to counter cybercrime worldwide.
