A joint operation by Interpol and Afripol has led to the arrest of 83 suspects across six African countries and uncovered hundreds of individuals and entities linked to terrorism financing networks.
The three-month initiative, dubbed Operation Catalyst, was conducted between July and September 2025 and marks the first continent-wide coordinated effort to dismantle financial networks that fuel terrorism. Law enforcement agencies from Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Sudan took part in the operation.
Authorities say the crackdown exposed more than $260 million in cash and cryptocurrency suspected to be tied to terrorism-related crimes.
Money Trails Linked to Cybercrime and Fraud
Interpol revealed that terror financing is increasingly intertwined with cybercrime, including online scams, Ponzi schemes, and money laundering operations.
Among those arrested:
- 21 suspects were detained for terrorism-related offences,
- 28 for fraud and money laundering,
- 16 for cyber-enabled scams, and
- 18 for the illegal use of virtual currencies.
More than 15,000 individuals and entities were screened during the operation, leading to the identification of 160 new persons of interest.
Major Arrests Across the Continent
In Angola, authorities arrested 25 suspects from multiple countries as part of a sweeping crackdown on illegal money transfer systems linked to terrorism and laundering. Police seized $588,000 in cash, 100 phones, 40 computers, and froze 60 bank accounts.
In Kenya, investigators uncovered a $430,000 money-laundering ring operated through a virtual asset service provider. Two suspects were arrested, while another pair was detained for allegedly recruiting youth from East and North Africa into terrorist groups using cryptocurrency transactions traced to Tanzania.
In Nigeria, 11 suspected terrorists, including senior operatives from multiple extremist organizations, were apprehended.
Global Crypto Ponzi Scheme Exposed
Operation Catalyst also revealed a massive cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme posing as a legitimate online trading platform. The scam spanned 17 countries, including Cameroon, Kenya, and Nigeria, and defrauded over 100,000 victims globally.
Interpol estimates total losses exceeding $562 million, some of which are believed to have been channeled into terrorist financing.
A Red Notice was also issued for a suspect accused of orchestrating a $5 million crypto fraud, who allegedly moved funds through multiple digital wallets and exchanges to obscure the trail before cashing out.
A United Front Against Terrorism Financing
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza hailed the operation as a milestone in Africa’s coordinated fight against terrorism financing.
“This is the first time financial crime, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism units from several African countries have joined forces under Interpol and Afripol,” Urquiza said. “By sharing intelligence, we can disrupt the financial lifelines that sustain terrorist networks.”
Afripol Executive Director Ambassador Jalel Chelba echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the power of cross-border collaboration.
“When African law enforcement works together, we present a unified and effective response to complex, evolving threats,” he said.
International and Private-Sector Support
Operation Catalyst was implemented under the ISPA Programme, funded by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, which supports Afripol’s initiatives to combat organized crime, terrorism, and financial offences.
Private-sector partners including Binance, Moody’s, and Uppsala Security provided vital cyber intelligence and data analytics that helped trace digital transactions and expose key money trails.
Interpol and Afripol said follow-up investigations are ongoing, with more arrests expected as authorities continue to track the flow of illicit funds across borders.
