Operation Jackal IV Leads to 58 Arrests in Global Crackdown on West African Cybercrime
Law enforcement agencies from 22 countries have identified 263 suspects and arrested 58 people linked to West African cybercrime and organized criminal networks.
Known as Operation Jackal IV, the coordinated international investigation targeted criminal organizations operating across West Africa between November 2025 and June 2026.
The operation also targeted Black Ax, a cybercrime syndicate associated with large-scale financial fraud around the world. Black Ax and similar groups commonly target victims through romance scams, cryptocurrency and investment scams, and business email compromise attacks. Investigators have also linked these organizations to violent crime.
Operation Jackal IV uncovers crime-as-a-service network
Argentine law enforcement arrested 17 people and linked 196 suspects to a major crime-as-a-service network during Operation Jackal IV. The network allegedly provided web domains, money laundering services, and other infrastructure to organized crime groups operating in West Africa.
South African authorities arrested an additional 39 people, blocked 257 bank accounts, and seized approximately $2.67 million from a criminal ring that allegedly targeted English-speaking retirees with investment and romance scams.
Romanian police arrested 11 suspects linked to a criminal group operating call centers that used promises of high returns from stocks and cryptocurrency investments to lure victims into sophisticated fraud schemes.
Italian authorities also identified a suspect connected to a pan-European money laundering network. Investigators say the network moved illicit funds through shell companies, money transfer services, and cash withdrawals.
Cybercriminals use social media and dark web services
Interpol said some criminal groups also use social media to target minors in sextortion schemes.
“Criminals typically contact minors through social media, build trust, and coerce them into sharing explicit images or videos. They then threaten to distribute this material to the victim’s contacts unless a ransom is paid,” Interpol said.
Interpol added that some organized crime groups obtain crime-as-a-service offerings from external providers, often through the dark web. These services allow criminals to outsource activities such as money laundering and other operational tasks.
Other international cybercrime operations
Between December 8, 2025, and January 30, 2026, African authorities arrested 651 suspects in another Interpol-coordinated operation involving 16 countries. Codenamed Operation Red Card 2.0, the investigation focused on organized crime and cyber-enabled fraud.
In July, Interpol announced that law enforcement agencies had arrested 5,811 suspects and seized $293 million in illicit assets during Operation First Light 2026. The global anti-fraud operation involved authorities from 97 countries.
The overall prevention score can hide what happens after the initial access. If an attacker uses valid credentials, your defenses drop sharply.
Blue Report 2026 measures defense techniques by technology across 338 million simulations run in customer production environments.
Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com