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Interpol and Afripol conducted Operation Catalyst to combat terrorism financing and cybercrime across multiple African nations. The coordinated effort resulted in 83 arrests and the identification of $260 million in illicitly obtained crypto and fiat currency. Authorities seized approximately $600,000 from these assets so far. The operation ran from July to September and aimed to trace and disrupt financial networks linked to terrorism.
Out of all the arrests, 21 were connected to terrorism-related crimes, 28 to fraud and money laundering, 16 to online scams, and 19 to the illegal use of virtual assets. The initiative highlighted a rising concern among law enforcement agencies about the misuse of cryptocurrency to finance criminal activities on the continent.
Organizational cooperation plays a vital role in the success of Operation Catalyst. Companies such as Binance, Moody's, and Uppsala Security provided blockchain data, analytical tools, and intelligence to assist investigations. Binance Investigations team assisted African law enforcement agencies with forensic data and operational intelligence to help track digital transactions tied to criminal activities.
One significant case discovered during the operation was a Ponzi scheme that utilized cryptocurrency to disguise itself as a legitimate exchange. The fraudulent platform defrauded approximately $562 million from over 100,000 victims in at least 17 countries, including Nigeria, Cameroon, and Kenya. Investigators discovered several high-value cryptocurrency wallets associated with this scheme that may have connections to terrorist financing. Interpol is still researching these links.
In another case, authorities in Kenya discovered a money laundering scheme that attempted to transfer illicit funds through a registered virtual asset service provider. Twelve suspects were identified, and two people were arrested for their involvement. These cases reflect the increasing complexity of financial crimes with digital assets in the African continent.
Interpol's 2025 Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report indicates a substantial increase in crypto-related crime on the continent. About two-thirds of the countries in Africa say that cybercrime now accounts for a medium to high percentage of criminal activity. In Western and Eastern Africa, such crimes account for approximately 30% of all offenses reported.
Nigeria, in particular, is experiencing rising levels of crypto-related fraud and corruption, with officials warning that some politicians are using digital assets to conceal illegal funds. Criminals are increasingly using stablecoins and coin mixers to hide their tracks in ransomware and extortion cases, complicating efforts to trace their activities.
Notwithstanding this trend, Interpol emphasizes that cryptocurrency remains a relatively minor segment of the comprehensive financial crimes. Conventional banking operations, fiat currency transfers, and even gift card scams persist as predominant forms of cybercriminal activity.
Furthermore, the achievements of Operation Catalyst highlight the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and private-sector entities in addressing emerging digital threats within Africa's financial infrastructure.
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