A 3-month world operation towards West African organized crime teams netted 300 arrests and the seizure of $3 million in belongings, Interpol introduced Tuesday.
Operation Jackal III concerned legislation enforcement businesses throughout 21 international locations and adopted two earlier annual efforts concentrating on West African teams concerned in on-line monetary fraud, particularly the notorious Nigeria-based Black Axe gang. Authorities blocked 720 financial institution accounts as a part of the operation, which came about from April 10 till early July.
In Argentina, after a five-year investigation authorities reportedly dismantled a “Nigerian-led” felony community which had inflicted “vital monetary losses” on greater than 160 victims. Police arrested 72 suspects there, froze about 100 financial institution accounts and seized $1.2 million in counterfeit banknotes.
Based on Interpol, the community’s cash mules opened financial institution accounts around the globe. It’s being investigated in over 40 international locations.
“The amount of economic fraud stemming from West Africa is alarming and rising,” stated Isaac Oginni, director of Interpol’s Monetary Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre. “This operation’s outcomes underscore the important want for worldwide legislation enforcement collaboration to fight these in depth felony networks.”
Portuguese police additionally dismantled a Nigerian community that recruited cash mules to launder funds from on-line monetary fraud victims throughout Europe. Seized computer systems and telephones turned up proof of transfers to Nigerian financial institution accounts, cryptocurrency transactions and cash laundering operations.
In October 2022, Interpol introduced the arrests of 75 folks with suspected Black Axe ties. Since its founding in 1977, the Benin Metropolis-based group has expanded into a worldwide enterprise concerned in cyber fraud, human trafficking and drug smuggling. In August 2023, Interpol introduced one other 103 arrests throughout 21 international locations concentrating on Black Axe and different West African organized crime teams.
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