INTERPOL arrests suspects linked to $562 million crypto Ponzi scheme in Nigeria
A coordinated worldwide operation led by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL has led to a number of arrests in Nigeria, together with suspects linked to an enormous cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme believed to have defrauded traders throughout 17 nations of over $562 million.
Whereas the names and nationalities of the arrested suspects weren’t disclosed, INTERPOL stated the two-month sweep (July–September 2025) dubbed Operation Catalyst, focused {financial} crimes linked to terrorism financing and cash laundering throughout Africa.
INTERPOL described the crackdown as the primary of its sort, resulting in 83 arrests throughout six African nations, together with Nigeria, Kenya, and Angola, with authorities figuring out greater than 160 individuals of curiosity and tracing illicit funds value round $260 million in each fiat and digital currencies.
In Nigeria, 11 suspected terrorists, together with alleged senior members of extremist {groups}, have been arrested as a part of the coordinated motion.
“A number of high-value crypto wallets tied to the operation at the moment are below forensic investigation, with authorities tracing transactions suspected to have been funnelled into terrorism-related actions,” it said.
As well as, INTERPOL disclosed {that a} Purple Discover has been issued for one of many scheme’s alleged masterminds, who’s accused of scamming victims of roughly $5 million by means of an elaborate community of crypto wallets and alternate platforms designed to obscure cash trails.
Throughout the six nations, greater than 15,000 people and entities have been screened throughout the operation, resulting in the seizure of roughly $600,000 thus far.
“Operation Catalyst is the primary time {financial} crime, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism items from a number of African nations have joined forces to focus on the financing of terrorism.
“By sharing intelligence and sources, we will extra successfully disrupt {financial} flows that help terrorist actions,” Urquiza stated.
AFRIPOL’s Govt Director, Ambassador Jalel Chelba, additionally highlighted the worth of synergy amongst African regulation enforcement businesses in combating subtle {financial} crimes.
“The operation exhibits that when African safety businesses unite, they will supply a decisive and coordinated response to complicated and evolving safety threats,” Chelba famous.
Operation Catalyst was backed by information and cyber intelligence help from private-sector companions, together with Binance, Moody’s, and Uppsala Safety.
Earlier in August, INTERPOL, in collaboration with authorities throughout Africa, had introduced the arrest of 1,209 suspected cybercriminals and dismantled 11,432 malicious on-line infrastructures in one of many largest crackdowns on cybercrime within the area.