INTERPOL has arrested over 300 individuals linked to the notorious West African criminal network, Black Axe, and other affiliated groups, as part of a major crackdown on organized crime.
The operation, known as Operation Jackal III, targeted online financial fraud and ran from April 10th to July 3rd across 21 countries on five continents.
The Black Axe, a secretive and dangerous criminal organization, is involved in a range of illicit activities, including trafficking, prostitution, and murder, with cybercrime being its most significant source of income. The operation led to the seizure of assets worth $3 million, the dismantling of multiple criminal networks, and the identification of over 400 additional suspects. More than 720 bank accounts were also blocked.
In Argentina, the operation resulted in the dismantling of a Nigerian-led transnational criminal network after a five-year investigation. The Federal Police seized $1.2 million in high-quality counterfeit banknotes, arrested 72 suspects, and froze approximately 100 bank accounts. The network is now under investigation in over 40 countries for related money laundering activities, with victims suffering significant financial losses.
The crackdown also extended to Switzerland, where West African organized crime syndicates were targeted, resulting in the seizure of cocaine, €45,000 in cash, and multiple arrests. In Portugal, authorities dismantled a Nigerian network involved in recruiting money mules and laundering funds from online financial fraud victims across Europe.
INTERPOL’s Director of Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption, Isaac Oginni, highlighted the alarming increase in financial fraud originating from West Africa and emphasized the importance of international law enforcement collaboration to combat these extensive criminal networks. The operation was supported by a coalition of police forces, financial intelligence units, asset recovery offices, and private sector partners from countries including Nigeria, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
The Nigerian Senate has previously expressed concerns about the country losing $500 million annually to various forms of cybercrime. In response, President Bola Tinubu pledged in February 2024 to strengthen the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s capacity to tackle digital offenses.
