Interpol has announced that a major operation across 16 African countries has resulted in the arrest of 651 individuals involved in cybercrime, with damages estimated at over 45 million dollars.
A significant crackdown on cybercrime in Africa has led to the arrest of 651 suspects across 16 countries, as revealed by Interpol on February 19, 2026. This large-scale operation, named 'Carton Rouge 2.0', aimed to dismantle extensive cybercrime networks that had reportedly defrauded victims of nearly 38 million euros, affecting hundreds or even thousands of individuals. Over the course of nearly two months, the authorities worked in conjunction with local police to achieve these results, highlighting the increasing threat and complexity of cyber crime in the region.
The operation illustrated the intricate networks that criminals have woven into various sectors of the economy. For instance, in Nigeria, six con artists managed to infiltrate the platform of a major telecommunications operator, stealing substantial amounts of communication credits. This case exemplifies the sophistication of cybercriminal tactics and their capacity to exploit organizational weaknesses, putting thousands of individuals at risk of financial loss.
As this operation underscores, the challenge of cybercrime is pervasive and multifaceted across Africa, demanding enhanced cooperation and resource allocation among law enforcement agencies. The total financial impact reported exceeds 45 million dollars in damages, prompting a renewed call for robust security measures and legal frameworks to combat such crimes more effectively in the future.
