INTERPOL Arrests Two Cybercrime Suspects in Nigeria During Operation Serengeti III
Reporting based primarily on punchng.com.
INTERPOL's Operation Serengeti III resulted in the arrest of two cybercrime suspects in Nigeria linked to a phishing and business email compromise operation and an international investment fraud scheme that moved more than $2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds. [2]
INTERPOL Announces Nigerian Arrests in Global Cybercrime Operation
The International Criminal Police Organisation has arrested two suspects in Nigeria in separate investigations into cybercrime, including an international investment fraud scheme linked to more than $2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds. [2] The arrests were disclosed in a statement on Operation Serengeti III, a cybercrime enforcement operation. [2] In a statement published on INTERPOL’s website, the agency said the operation was coordinated between June 29 and August 31, 2026, with law enforcement agencies from 21 countries participating. [2] Nigerian authorities arrested one suspect linked to a large-scale phishing and business email compromise operation that harvested software credentials and amassed approximately 2.1 million email addresses. [2] Investigators recovered a luxury vehicle suspected to have been purchased with criminal proceeds. [2]
Details of the Nigerian Investigations
In Nigeria, authorities arrested a suspect behind a large-scale phishing and business email compromise operation that harvested software credentials and amassed approximately 2.1 million email addresses. [2] Investigators also recovered a luxury vehicle suspected to have been purchased with criminal proceeds. [2] A separate Nigerian investigation targeted an international investment fraud scheme promoted via messaging apps, leading to the arrest of a suspect. [2] Financial investigations revealed the movement of more than $2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds, much of which was laundered through cryptocurrency transactions. [2] The names of the two suspects were not disclosed in the statement. [2]
Operation Scope and International Results
INTERPOL said Operation Serengeti III targeted cyber-enabled fraud, ransomware, business email compromise, online scams and digital extortion. [2] The operation involved law enforcement agencies from 21 countries, which arrested 1,462 suspects, disrupted 10,909 malicious networks and recovered more than $105 million in illicit funds. [2] Authorities also identified 65,929 victims targeted by cybercriminal networks, while financial investigations linked criminal activities to losses exceeding $385 million. [2] The operation was supported by private-sector partners who provided intelligence, technical analysis and operational expertise to help investigators identify targets, map criminal networks and support investigations. [2] Nigeria was among the participating countries, alongside Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe. [2]
Statements on Cross-Border Cybercrime
INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime, Neal Jetton, said cybercrime networks exploited technology to target victims across national borders. [2] “Operation Serengeti III reinforces a clear message: while cybercrime is increasingly borderless, international cooperation remains one of the most effective tools for disrupting criminal networks, recovering criminal assets and protecting communities from digital harm,” he said. [2]
Ongoing Investigations
The statement added that several investigations arising from the operation remained active, with authorities continuing efforts to identify additional suspects, trace illicit proceeds and analyse seized digital evidence. [2]
What to watch next: Several investigations arising from the operation remained active, with authorities continuing efforts to identify additional suspects, trace illicit proceeds and analyse seized digital evidence. [2]
