A major INTERPOL-led operation targeting West African and other organised crime groups has resulted in the identification of 263 suspects and the arrest of 58 people across 22 countries, according to the international police organisation.
Known as Operation Jackal IV, the coordinated effort ran from November 2025 to June 2026, with Nigeria among the participating countries.
The operation brought together authorities from countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Germany, South Africa, Italy, Argentina, Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
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Following the money
Rather than focusing solely on arrests, investigators targeted the financial infrastructure supporting organised crime.
The operation sought to:
- Trace illicit financial transactions
- Identify major players within criminal networks
- Recover proceeds allegedly generated through crime
- Disrupt criminal organisations
- Strengthen evidence for prosecutions
INTERPOL said the campaign was prompted by the expanding international footprint of West African organised crime groups, including Black Axe, and networks involved in cyber-enabled fraud and violent offences.
The groups have been linked to schemes ranging from romance and investment scams to cryptocurrency fraud and business email compromise.
Major breakthroughs across several countries
Some of the most significant developments occurred outside West Africa.
Argentina: 196 suspects identified
Argentine investigators identified 196 people allegedly connected to a crime-as-a-service network.
The network was reportedly providing services such as website domains and money-laundering assistance to West African criminal groups.
The investigation resulted in 17 arrests.
South Africa: 39 arrests
South African authorities raided seven locations in Johannesburg while investigating a syndicate allegedly targeting retirees in English-speaking countries through romance and investment scams.
The operation resulted in:
- 39 arrests
- About $2.67 million seized
- 257 bank accounts frozen
Italy: €845,000 moved through one account
Italian investigators uncovered an alleged European money-laundering network that reportedly relied on shell companies, remittance businesses and cash withdrawals to obscure the source of criminal proceeds.
One account connected to the investigation reportedly handled €845,000 across 560 transactions involving 20 financial instruments.
Romania: €143 million alleged scam
Romanian authorities dismantled an organisation accused of running an investment fraud operation through a call centre.
Eleven people were arrested, while investigators recovered approximately €330,000 in cash and cryptocurrency, along with six properties and several luxury watches.
Authorities estimated that the scheme had generated and laundered roughly €143 million worldwide.
Sextortion targeting minors
Operation Jackal IV also uncovered an alarming dimension of organised crime: the alleged exploitation of minors through online sextortion.
INTERPOL said some victims were as young as 14.
Investigators reported that offenders allegedly used social media to establish relationships with young victims before coercing them into sending sexually explicit images or videos.
The perpetrators would then allegedly threaten to distribute the material to relatives and friends unless the victims paid money.
Criminal networks outsourcing crime
INTERPOL also highlighted the growing role of crime-as-a-service.
Instead of maintaining every specialised capability themselves, organised crime groups can allegedly hire outside operators to perform tasks such as money laundering. Some of these services are reportedly advertised or facilitated through dark-web platforms.
Tomonobu Kaya, director of INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, said the operation showed why countries need to cooperate closely when confronting criminal networks that move money and operations across borders.
The message from Operation Jackal IV is clear: organised crime may operate internationally, but investigators are increasingly following the same routes—particularly the money—to dismantle it.