…Global cybercrime crackdown leads to 1,462 arrests, recovery of over $105m across 21 countries
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has disclosed the arrest of two suspects in Nigeria over separate cybercrime operations involving an international investment fraud scheme linked to more than $2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds and the harvesting of approximately 2.1 million email addresses.
The arrests formed part of Operation Serengeti III, a coordinated international crackdown on cybercrime conducted between June 29 and August 31, 2026, involving law enforcement agencies from 21 countries.
In a statement published on its website and obtained by PUNCH Metro on Thursday, INTERPOL said Nigerian authorities arrested one suspect allegedly involved in a large-scale phishing and business email compromise operation.
The operation reportedly involved the theft of software credentials and the collection of approximately 2.1 million email addresses, potentially exposing individuals and organisations to further cyberattacks.
Investigators also recovered a luxury vehicle suspected to have been purchased with proceeds from the alleged criminal activities.
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In a separate investigation, Nigerian authorities arrested another suspect in connection with an international investment fraud scheme promoted through messaging applications.
INTERPOL disclosed that financial investigations traced the movement of more than $2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds, much of which was allegedly laundered through cryptocurrency transactions.
The identities of the two suspects were not disclosed.
The statement read: “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. Investigators also recovered a luxury vehicle suspected to have been purchased with criminal proceeds.
“A separate Nigerian investigation targeted an international investment fraud scheme promoted via messaging apps, leading to the arrest of a suspect. Financial investigations revealed the movement of more than $2.4m in suspected criminal proceeds, much of which was laundered through cryptocurrency transactions.”
The agency explained that Operation Serengeti III was designed to dismantle criminal networks involved in cyber-enabled fraud, ransomware attacks, business email compromise, online scams and digital extortion.
Across the 21 participating countries, law enforcement agencies arrested 1,462 suspects and disrupted 10,909 malicious networks linked to cybercriminal activities.
INTERPOL also reported the recovery of more than $105 million in illicit funds during the two-month operation.
According to the organisation, investigators identified 65,929 victims targeted by cybercriminal networks, while financial investigations linked the activities under investigation to losses exceeding $385 million.
The operation was supported by private-sector partners who provided intelligence, technical analysis and operational expertise to help investigators identify suspects, trace illicit financial flows and map criminal networks.
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The Nigerian investigations highlight the growing use of messaging applications, compromised email accounts and cryptocurrency transactions in sophisticated online fraud schemes.
Business email compromise typically involves criminals impersonating trusted individuals or organisations to deceive victims into transferring funds or disclosing sensitive information.
Phishing operations, meanwhile, often rely on fraudulent messages and websites designed to steal login credentials, financial details and other confidential information.
The latest arrests form part of INTERPOL’s broader efforts to strengthen cross-border cooperation against cybercriminal networks whose operations frequently extend beyond national jurisdictions.
