West African crime groups targeted in global operation across 5 continents

A major global operation targeting West African organized crime groups across five continents has successfully concluded, Interpol has announced, which has led to the arrest of 300 people, seizing $3 million and blocking 720 bank accounts.

Operation Jackal III, which ran from April to early July in 21 countries on five continents, aimed to fight online financial fraud committed by the West African crime syndicates, the agency said in a statement. “The volume of financial fraud stemming from West Africa is alarming and increasing,” said Isaac Oginni, director of Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre. “By identifying suspects, recovering illicit funds and putting some of West Africa’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.”

One of the targeted crime groups of the Operation Jackal III was Black Axe, one of the most notorious criminal networks based in West Africa that has reportedly been involved in cyber fraud, human trafficking, drug smuggling and violent crimes both within Africa and internationally, Interpol stated.

Black Axe’s tactics include the use of money mules to open bank accounts around the world, and it is currently under investigation in over 40 countries for money laundering activities.

The 196-member Interpol that celebrated its centennial last year works to help national police forces communicate with each other and track suspects and criminals in fields like counterterrorism, financial crime, child pornography, cybercrime, and organized crime.