Interpol announced the successful conclusion of Operation Jackal IV, a multi-national law enforcement effort targeting West African cybercrime syndicates. The operation, which ran from November 2025 to June 2026, focused on dismantling financial fraud networks, including cryptocurrency and email compromise scams, which frequently targeted retirees in English-speaking countries.
Tomonobu Kaya, director of Interpol's financial crime centre, stated that by tracking illicit financial flows across borders, law enforcement is attacking the core of organized crime and hindering its profitability. He highlighted the operation as a demonstration of the effectiveness of international cooperation. Interpol facilitated cross-border coordination, intelligence sharing, and provided specialized training for money-laundering investigations to participating nations.
While many aspects of Operation Jackal IV are still under investigation, preliminary outcomes include arrests in Argentina, Italy, Romania, and South Africa. In South Africa, authorities raided seven sites linked to a syndicate involved in romance and investment scams. During these raids, South African police apprehended 39 individuals, seized $2.67 million in illicit funds, and blocked 257 bank accounts.
Beyond cyber-enabled fraud, Interpol noted that these West African networks are also involved in other serious and violent criminal activities. The Black Axe network, a significant criminal organization with global operations in trafficking, prostitution, and violence, has been a focus of previous Jackal operations. Nigeria serves as the primary recruitment ground for Black Axe, with many members being university-educated and initiated during their schooling.
Operation Jackal IV is part of a series of "Jackal" police operations initiated since 2022. The preceding operation, Jackal III in 2024, led to the arrests of 300 individuals associated with Black Axe and its affiliated groups.