INTERPOL Operation Jackal IV Leads to 58 Arrests, 263 Suspects Identified in Crackdown

An eight‑month INTERPOL operation targeting West African organized crime groups has led to 58 arrests and the identification of 263 suspects across 22 countries, marking the latest phase of a global crackdown on cyber‑enabled financial fraud.

INTERPOL said Operation Jackal IV was launched in response to the escalating threat posed by networks such as Black Axe and similar groups, which are responsible for a significant share of worldwide romance scams, cryptocurrency and investment fraud, business email compromise, and other serious crimes. Countries participating in the effort spanned six continents, including Austria, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.A.E., the U.K., and the U.S.

Investigators identified 196 individuals linked to a major crime‑as‑a‑service network believed to have provided website domains and money‑laundering support to West African criminal groups. Seventeen arrests have been made so far in connection with that case.

Authorities also raided seven locations in Johannesburg tied to romance and investment scams targeting retirees in English‑speaking countries. INTERPOL said the syndicate operated like a legitimate business, with members assigned “conversion” and “retention” roles to manage victims and maximize profits.

In Romania, police dismantled a sophisticated investment fraud scheme run out of a call center that promised high returns in stocks and cryptocurrency. Victims were tricked into transferring funds that were diverted to wallets controlled by the group, resulting in an estimated €143 million stolen and laundered globally. Eleven suspects were arrested, and authorities seized €330,000 in cash and cryptocurrency, six real estate properties, and several luxury watches.

Elsewhere, investigators identified a suspect involved in a pan‑European money‑laundering network that used shell companies, remittance services, and cash withdrawals to obscure the origins of illicit funds. One account alone laundered €845,000 across 560 transactions using 20 different financial instruments.

Operation Jackal IV ran from November 2025 to June 2026 and is the fourth iteration of INTERPOL’s effort to dismantle West African financial crime networks. Previous waves resulted in hundreds of arrests and the blocking of more than 1,000 bank accounts:

• Jackal I (2022): 75 arrests, 49 property searches, €1.2 million intercepted
• Jackal II (2023): 103 arrests, 1,110 suspects identified, 208 bank accounts blocked, €2.15 million seized
• Jackal III (2024): 300 arrests, 400 suspects identified, 720+ bank accounts blocked

“Operation Jackal IV demonstrates the power of international cooperation,” said Tomonobu Kaya, director of INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti‑Corruption Centre. “By following illicit financial flows across borders, we are attacking the lifeblood of organized crime and making it increasingly difficult for criminal networks to profit from their activities.”