Operation Jackal III, as it is called, took place from April 10 to July 3 in 21 countries on five continents of the world. The operation targeted online financial fraud and the West African syndicates behind it.
The operation resulted in approximately 300 arrests, the identification of over 400 additional suspects and the blocking of more than 720 bank accounts.
Targeted at Nigerian Black Axe
One of the targets of the operation was the organized criminal network Black Axe, which was founded in Nigeria. The network conducts drug smuggling, cyber fraud and human trafficking worldwide – including in Sweden.
After a five-year investigation, police in Argentina have now seized $1.2 million in counterfeit notes, arrested 72 suspects and frozen around 100 bank accounts linked to Black Axe.
Another target was a Nigerian network involved in money laundering from victims of online financial fraud across Europe. Through this operation, the Portuguese Criminal Police was able to dismantle the network completely.
Interpol: “Alarming”
“The amount of financial fraud emanating from West Africa is alarming and increasing. The outcome of this operation underscores the critical need for international law enforcement cooperation to combat these extensive criminal networks,” said Isaac Oginni, head of Interpol’s Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Center (IFCACC) in a statement.
Interpol highlights that the following countries cooperated in the operation: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ivory Coast, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain and the United States .