Interpol Busts Black Axe Global Crime Network, Arrest Over 300

The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) Police units had in a coordinated action in 21 countries between April and July 2024 arrested over 300 people with links to Nigerian criminal group Black Axe and other affiliated groups.

Interpol said Operation Jackal III was a โ€œmajor blowโ€ to Black Axe โ€“ described as a secretive criminal network involved in trafficking, prostitution and killing operations around the world.

Interpol said cybercrime is now the groupโ€™s largest source of revenue.

In a statement, Interpol said operation โ€œOperation Jackal IIIโ€ led to hundreds of arrests, the seizure of assets worth $3m, and the dismantling of multiple criminal networks around the world.

According to the statement, Operation Jackal III, which ran from 10 April to 3 July across 21 countries on five continents, targeted online financial fraud and the West African syndicates behind it.

Over 400 additional suspects were also identified, including the blocking of more than 720 bank accounts while INTERPOL headquarters assist countries by facilitating intelligence exchange and the identification and apprehension of suspects.

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Operation Jackal III mobilised police forces, financial intelligence units, asset recovery offices, and private sector partners in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cote Dโ€™Ivoire, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Director of INTERPOLโ€™s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) Isaac Oginni said, โ€œThe volume of financial fraud stemming from West Africa is alarming and increasing. This operationโ€™s results underscore the critical need for international law enforcement collaboration to combat these extensive criminal networks.

โ€œBy identifying suspects, recovering illicit funds and putting some of West Africaโ€™s most dangerous organized crime leaders behind bars, we are able to weaken their influence and reduce their capacity to harm communities around the world.โ€

A senior official at Interpolโ€™s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, Tomonobu Kaya, stressed the significance of financial technology and cryptocurrency in aiding the operations of cybercrime syndicates which are renowned for multi-million dollar online scams.

He said, โ€œThey are very organised and very structured. These criminal syndicates are early adopters of new technologies. A lot of fintech developments make it easy to illegally move money around the world.โ€

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In Argentina, Operation Jackal III saw the dismantling of a Nigerian-led transnational criminal network following a five-year investigation. The Federal Police seized USD 1.2 million in โ€˜supernotesโ€™ โ€“ high-quality counterfeit banknotes โ€“ arrested 72 suspects and froze approximately 100 bank accounts.

The network used money mules to open bank accounts worldwide and is now under investigation in over 40 countries for related money laundering activities. The suspects include citizens from Argentina, Colombia, Nigeria and Venezuela.

More than 160 fraud victims suffered significant financial losses, with some forced to sell their homes or take out large loans as a result.

Diego Verdun, Head of Argentinaโ€™s National Central Bureau, said: โ€œOperation Jackal is a crucial step forward in combating West African online financial fraud and clearly demonstrates that cybercriminals cannot escape the watchful eye of INTERPOLโ€™s 196 member countries โ€“ especially in Argentina.

โ€œBy following illegal money trails worldwide, INTERPOL and the global police community ensure that no matter where these criminals try to hide, they will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.โ€

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In a separate case in Switzerland, it cracked down on West African organised crime syndicates operating nationwide, seizing cocaine, approximately EUR 45,000 in cash, and arresting multiple suspects.

Portuguese criminal police dismantled a Nigerian network involved in money mule recruitment, laundering funds from online financial fraud victims across Europe. More than 25 syndicate members were identified in the process.

Data from seized computers and phones revealed large transfers to Nigerian bank accounts, cryptocurrency transactions, and sophisticated money laundering operations.

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