GUARDIAN NG
Interpol has arrested 306 suspects across seven African countries as part of Operation Red Card, targeting cybercrime scams from November 2024 to February 2025. The operation uncovered over 1,500 victims and led to the seizure of 1,842 devices linked to mobile banking, investment, and messaging app scams. Nigeria recorded the highest number of arrests, with 130 suspects, including 113 foreign nationals, detained for their involvement in online fraud. Authorities found that some individuals working in scam centers were victims of human trafficking, forced into cybercrime.
Other countries involved in the operation included Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo. Rwandan authorities arrested 45 suspects linked to social engineering scams, while South African officials uncovered a SIM box fraud scheme leading to 40 arrests. In Zambia, 14 members of a phone-hacking syndicate were detained for infiltrating banking apps through malicious links. The crackdown, supported by shared intelligence between African law enforcement agencies and Interpol, highlights the growing threat of cyber-enabled scams and the need for continued international cooperation.