A wide-ranging crackdown against organised cybercrime gangs has led to the arrest of 58 individuals in 22 countries and six continents, as Interpol targets criminal gangs accused of conducting romance, cryptocurrency, investment and other financial scams.
This particular crackdown, dubbed Operation Jackal IV, targeted West African crime syndicates, particularly the Nigerian-based Black Axe syndicate, which, according to Interpol, is responsible for a significant amount of cyber-enabled financial fraud around the world.
The operation has also uncovered the rising trend of using sextortion as a tool to target minors, some as young as 14 years old.
What Is Operation Jackal IV?
Operation Jackal IV was led by Interpol from November 2025 to June 2026 and involved investigators from 22 countries across six continents.
The operation targeted criminal networks, illicit money flows and the use of digital and financial networks by organised groups to scam victims.
A total of 263 individuals were flagged, with 58 arrests being made during the operation.
Cross-border coordination and intelligence sharing services related to money-laundering investigations were also offered to the participating countries by Interpol.
How Was the Criminal Network Exploiting the Victims?
Criminal networks employed various forms of financial crimes through the internet.
These include romance scams, investment scams, cryptocurrency scams, and business email compromise, where criminals use deception to dupe victims into sending money and/or disclosing financial details.
According to Interpol, the scams were mainly aimed at retirees from English-speaking countries, demonstrating how criminals operating from miles away could successfully deceive victims.
The campaign also highlighted sextortion as one of the threats against young people, with some victims aged just 14 years.
What Took Place in South Africa?
South Africa was among the countries with the most impressive outcome during Operation Jackal IV.
The police in South Africa, alongside Interpol officials, conducted raids in seven locations in Johannesburg associated with a syndicate involved in romance and investment scams.
In South Africa, 39 individuals were arrested, with approximately $2.67 million and 257 bank accounts blocked.
These operations are showing how investigators are becoming more focused on not only the scammers themselves but also on the infrastructure behind the organized cybercriminal gangs.
Is Black Axe Behind the Cybercrime?
Black Axe is one of the West African criminal organizations often associated with international cyber fraud.
According to Interpol, the wider criminal organization that is a target of the Jackal IV was known to conduct numerous criminal operations, including financial fraud and money laundering.
However, according to the authorities, all those arrested during the operation do not necessarily belong to the Black Axe.
The organization has a much wider criminal history. It was proven by the investigations and media reports that Black Axe and its affiliates were involved in human trafficking, prostitution, violence, murders, as well as financial fraud.
BBC has previously covered how the organization has evolved from a Nigerian gang into an international criminal organization. The ultra-violent gang that turned into the global mafia
How Does Black Axe Operate Internationally?
The international presence of the organization has made it impossible for individual countries to deal with it.
Fast transfer of funds through digital communications, cryptocurrencies, international bank accounts, and mule networks can help the criminals move the illegal proceeds quickly across borders.
It is for this reason that Interpol’s approach to crime-fighting has been moving from the arrest of the criminals where the scam is committed to following the financial trail.
What Went On During The Previous Jackal Operations?
The latest Jackal operation is the continuation of several international investigations into organized crime originating from West Africa.
Operation Jackal III, in 2024, led to around 300 arrests connected to the group called Black Axe and other criminal organizations allied with it.
This new operation appears to show that international law enforcement agencies have continued to pay attention to the capabilities of the criminal networks to generate, transfer, and launder money.
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