A month-long multinational crackdown on cybercrime, coordinated by Interpol, has resulted in hundreds of arrests, millions of dollars in recovered funds, and the dismantling of critical criminal infrastructure across the African continent.
A Coordinated Continental Effort
The campaign, known as Operation Sentinel, ran from October 27 to November 27, 2025, and brought together law-enforcement agencies from 19 African countries. The operation targeted a wide range of cyber-enabled crimes, including ransomware attacks, business email compromise (BEC), online fraud, phishing, and digital extortion.
By combining intelligence sharing, digital forensics, and coordinated takedowns, authorities were able to strike simultaneously at cybercriminal networks operating across borders.
Major Outcomes
Hundreds of Arrests and Significant Seizures
Operation Sentinel led to the arrest of 574 suspects connected to cybercrime activities ranging from ransomware deployment to large-scale fraud schemes. Investigators also recovered approximately USD 3 million in alleged illicit proceeds linked to these networks, disrupting both their operations and financial lifelines.
Disrupted Networks and Technical Breakthroughs
Ransomware Decryption and Infrastructure Takedowns
A key achievement of the operation was its technical impact. Authorities successfully decrypted six distinct ransomware variants that were actively being used against victims, neutralizing ongoing attacks and preventing further damage.
In parallel, more than 6,000 malicious links—used to distribute malware, phishing kits, and fraudulent web pages—were taken offline. These actions were supported by advanced malware reverse engineering, domain seizures, and the dismantling of servers used as cybercrime infrastructure.
Notable Incident Highlights
Business Email Compromise Stopped in Senegal
In Senegal, investigators uncovered a sophisticated BEC scheme targeting a major petroleum company. Cybercriminals had compromised internal email accounts and attempted to authorize a fraudulent wire transfer of USD 7.9 million. Rapid intervention by authorities froze the destination accounts before any funds could be withdrawn, preventing a potentially devastating loss.
Ransomware Recovery in Ghana
A financial institution in Ghana fell victim to a ransomware attack that encrypted 100 terabytes of data, with attackers demanding a ransom of roughly USD 120,000. Ghanaian investigators analyzed the malware, identified the ransomware strain, and developed a custom decryption tool. As a result, nearly 30 terabytes of critical data were successfully recovered for the victim organization.
Cross-Border Fraud Rings Dismantled
Joint operations in Ghana and Nigeria dismantled an online fraud ring that used professionally designed websites and mobile apps impersonating popular fast-food brands. Victims were charged for orders that were never delivered. The scheme defrauded more than 200 victims, causing losses exceeding USD 400,000. Authorities arrested 10 suspects and took 30 fraud-related servers offline.
Additional Regional Enforcement Actions
- Benin: Investigators dismantled extortion-related fraud infrastructure, seizing digital devices and shutting down more than 1,000 scam accounts, domains, and servers.
- Cameroon: A phishing campaign linked to fraudulent vehicle sales platforms was traced back to compromised systems, leading to the freezing of associated financial accounts.
Broader Context and Regional Significance
Interpol reported that cases linked to Operation Sentinel accounted for estimated financial losses exceeding USD 21 million, underscoring the scale and economic impact of cybercrime across Africa.
The organization has also highlighted that cybercrime now represents more than 30% of all reported crime in parts of Western and Eastern Africa, driven largely by the growth of ransomware, digital extortion, and online fraud.
Operation Sentinel builds on a series of recent coordinated enforcement campaigns, signaling stronger international cooperation, improved cyber-investigative capacity, and a growing commitment among African law-enforcement agencies to confront cyber threats at scale.
A Turning Point in the Fight Against Cybercrime
The results of Operation Sentinel demonstrate that sustained collaboration, technical expertise, and rapid response can significantly disrupt cybercriminal ecosystems. As digital threats continue to evolve, the operation stands as a model for future multinational efforts aimed at protecting economies, institutions, and citizens across the continent.
