An eight-month **INTERPOL** operation, a coordinated global response to the escalating threat of West African organized crime groups, has led to the arrest of 58 individuals and the identification of 263 suspects. "The operation, which brought together 22 countries from six continents, is a response to the escalating global threat posed by West African criminal networks – such as the **Black Axe** and other similar groups," **INTERPOL** stated. These groups are responsible for a significant share of the world's cyber-enabled financial fraud, typically through romance scams, cryptocurrency and investment scams, or Business Email Compromise (**BEC**) fraud, as well as other serious and violent crimes.  ### Global Reach and Coordinated Raids Participating countries included Austria, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.A.E., the U.K., and the U.S. **INTERPOL**'s investigation identified 196 individuals for their roles in a major Crime-as-a-Service (**CaaS**) network, which allegedly provided website domains and money laundering support to West African organized crime groups. Seventeen arrests have been made in connection with this specific case. Authorities also conducted raids at seven locations in Johannesburg, targeting a syndicate operating romance and investment scams against retirees in English-speaking countries. This operation functioned with a hierarchical structure, assigning members roles such as "conversion" or "retention" agents. South African law enforcement, supported by an **INTERPOL** Operational Support Team (**OST**), apprehended 39 individuals, confiscated $2.67 million, and froze 257 bank accounts. ### Targeting Sophisticated Scams Another sophisticated investment scam, run from a call center in Romania, was dismantled. This scheme promised high returns on stocks and cryptocurrency, tricking victims into diverting funds to fraudster-controlled wallets. The total estimated stolen and laundered amount globally is €143 million (approximately $166 million). Police arrested 11 individuals and seized approximately €330,000 ($379,000) in cash and cryptocurrency, six real estate properties, and several luxury watches.  Elsewhere, one individual was identified in connection with a pan-European money laundering network utilizing shell companies, remittance services, and cash withdrawals to obscure illicit fund origins. A single account in this network laundered €845,000 (about $736,000) across 560 transactions using 20 different financial instruments. ### The Ongoing Success of Operation Jackal This latest effort, Operation Jackal IV, took place between November 2025 and June 2026. It is the fourth iteration of a series aimed at dismantling money laundering operations, identifying high-value targets, and seizing assets associated with West African financial crime. Previous phases of Operation Jackal have yielded significant results: * **Operation Jackal I** (September 26 to 30, 2022): 75 arrests, 49 property searches, and €1.2 million intercepted in bank accounts. * **Operation Jackal II** (May 15 to 19, 2023): 103 arrests, 1,110 suspects identified, 208 bank accounts blocked, and €2.15 million seized or frozen. * **Operation Jackal III** (April 10 to July 3, 2024): 300 arrests, 400 suspects identified, and more than 720 bank accounts blocked. "Operation Jackal IV demonstrates the power of international cooperation," said **Tomonobu Kaya**, director of the **INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre**. "By following illicit financial flows across borders, we are attacking the very lifeblood of organized crime and making it increasingly difficult for criminal networks to profit from their activities."