*574 arrests and USD 3 million recovered in coordinated cybercrime operation across Africa* _The operation targeted business email compromise schemes, digital extortion and ransomware_ *LYON, France –* Law enforcement in 19 countries have arrested 574 suspects and recovered approximately USD 3 million in a significant cybercrime operation across Africa. Operation Sentinel (27 October – 27 November) focused on three prevalent crime types: business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion and ransomware, all identified as growing threats in INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report. During the INTERPOL-coordinated initiative, over 6,000 malicious links were taken down and six distinct ransomware variants were decrypted. The cases investigated during the month-long operation were linked to estimated financial losses exceeding USD 21 million. ➡️🔗 https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2025/574-arrests-and-USD-3-million-recovered-in-coordinated-cybercrime-operation-across-Africa *Operational highlights: Quick interventions and international cooperation save USD millions* In Senegal, a major petroleum company detected a sophisticated BEC scheme in which fraudsters infiltrated internal email systems and impersonated executives to authorize a fraudulent wire transfer of USD 7.9 million. By urgently freezing destination accounts, Senegalese authorities successfully halted the transfer before funds could be withdrawn. A Ghanaian financial institution was hit by a ransomware attack that encrypted 100 terabytes of data and stole approximately USD 120,000, disrupting critical services. Ghanaian authorities conducted advanced malware analysis, allowing them to identify the ransomware strain and develop a decryption tool that recovered nearly 30 terabytes of data. Multiple suspects have been arrested. Ghanaian authorities also dismantled a major cyber-fraud network operating across Ghana and Nigeria that defrauded more than 200 victims of over USD 400,000. Using professionally designed websites and mobile apps, the scammers mimicked well-known fast-food brands, collecting payments but never delivering orders. Ten suspects were arrested in Ghana, with over 100 digital devices seized and 30 fraudulent servers taken offline. In Benin, 43 malicious domains were taken down and 4,318 social media accounts linked to extortion schemes and scams were shut down, leading to 106 arrests. Cameroonian law enforcement reacted quickly after two victims reported a scam involving an online vehicle sales platform. The phishing campaign was traced to a compromised server and an emergency bank freeze was issued within hours. Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime, said: _“The scale and sophistication of cyberattacks across Africa are accelerating, especially against critical sectors like finance and energy. The outcomes from Operation Sentinel reflect the commitment of African law enforcement agencies, working in close coordination with international partners. Their actions have successfully protected livelihoods, secured sensitive personal data and preserved critical infrastructure.”_ Operation Sentinel was made possible through close coordination with INTERPOL’s private sector partners Team Cymru, The Shadowserver Foundation, Trend Micro, TRM Labs and Uppsala Security. Partnerships with private sectors provided critical technical support in tracing IP addresses utilized at various stages of the ransomware attack lifecycle and sextortion schemes, as well as assisting in freezing illicit financial assets.

*International fugitive hunt leads to 85 arrests* _Task force operation involving 17 countries cracks most-wanted cases_ *LYON, France —* An international fugitive operation coordinated by INTERPOL across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe has resulted in the arrest of 85 persons wanted internationally under INTERPOL Red Notices, and in the location of 18 others, with additional arrests expected as investigations continue. The six-month campaign, running from June to November, brought together investigators from 17 countries to share real-time intelligence and target 184 high-priority cases. The operation was conducted under INTERPOL’s support to EL PACCTO 2.0, an initiative seeking to establish a permanent international network of fugitive investigators. It is funded by the European Union (Directorate-General for International Partnerships). The initiative enables joint investigations through interregional police cooperation and standardized information exchange on some of the world’s most wanted suspects. ➡️🔗 https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2025/International-fugitive-hunt-leads-to-85-arrests *Priority fugitive targets* In June and November, INTERPOL’s Fugitive Investigative Support unit and participating countries met in El Salvador and Ecuador to identify the most dangerous fugitives wanted for violent crimes or links to transnational organized crime. Among those arrested, 19 were wanted for murder, 29 for drug trafficking, 28 for crimes against children, and seven for rape. Others were detained for human trafficking, money laundering, and other offences linked to crime syndicates. 🔵 Operational highlights: * In Spain, Lissette Ysabel Rojas Guevara, one of Chile’s most wanted and allegedly linked to the organized crime group Tren de Aragua, was detained in connection with a USD 150 million cryptocurrency fraud scheme used to launder proceeds from drug trafficking and extortion across Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Iberian Peninsula. * In Portugal, authorities arrested Brazilian national Daniel Zago, allegedly linked to the organized crime group Primeiro Comando da Capital (known as PCC), disrupting a key cocaine trafficking corridor from São Paulo to Europe. * In the United Arab Emirates, Albanian national Dritan Gjika was arrested over alleged cocaine shipments from Ecuador, concealed as banana exports. * In Ecuador, Lithuanian fugitive L.G., wanted by their authorities for drugs trafficking was detained following coordination between local police and INTERPOL’s Fugitive Investigative Support unit. * In Chile, authorities arrested nine fugitives after joining the INTERPOL support to EL PACCTO 2.0 project in June 2025 — including four Chilean nationals wanted domestically, and five wanted by other countries. * Following coordinated action across the regions involved, law enforcement targeted international criminal gang MS-13, Albanian organized crime factions, and the Comandos de las Fronteras’ armed criminal network. Between June and December 2025, four fugitives linked to Tren de Aragua were arrested in Colombia and Spain. Additional arrests are expected as investigations continue.