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Tether has entered a partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime after an Interpol-led operation in Africa seized $260 million tied to illicit financial activity. The agreement follows a coordinated enforcement action that targeted criminal networks using digital assets across multiple jurisdictions.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of cryptocurrency in Africa. In the meantime, however, the authorities have been informing the public about the increasing risk of falling victim to cybercrime and financial abuse, all linked to blockchain transactions.
A key focus of the collaboration involves public education, starting with youth-focused cybersecurity programs in Senegal. The initiative includes structured learning courses and practical bootcamps. These programs introduce basic blockchain concepts, digital security practices, and fraud awareness.
Organizers plan to expand the education effort in phases. The goal is to improve early technical understanding among young people as digital finance adoption increases. The partnership also includes a student competition that encourages blockchain-based tools designed to support financial inclusion while reducing misuse.
The Senegal Project forms part of this effort. It offers bootcamps, mentorship, and small grants to participants developing technical skills. Training sessions will be delivered through the Plan B Foundation, which operates in cooperation with the city of Lugano.
The Africa Project, apart from education, allocates grants to human rights-based organizations in various countries. The countries are Senegal, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
With the support of such funding, programs that not only safeguard but also care for the victims of human trafficking are run. Moreover, it contributes to the awareness activities that are related to the exploitation of people for financial gains. The partnership extends outside Africa through the Papua New Guinea Project.
That program works with universities in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to promote financial inclusion and fraud prevention. Student competitions form part of the initiative. These competitions focus on practical blockchain-based solutions.
Tether said it will provide technical expertise to support law enforcement agencies. This includes assistance with blockchain transaction analysis and asset tracing linked to criminal investigations.
The announcement follows the recent Interpol operation that resulted in the $260 million seizure. Before October in the year 2023, AI models were trained on data of that expiration date. Digital assets, in particular, have become noticeable to the authorities as a method for committing crimes across borders.
Tether has announced its partnership with law enforcement across the world. Over the years, these partnerships have led to the freezing of over $3.2 billion connected with unlawful activities. Tether's CEO, Paolo Ardoino, said that the relationship involves imparting knowledge and creativity to make economic participation less risky.
Sylvie Bertrand, the West and Central Africa regional representative for UNODC, commented that the growth of safeguards prevents the criminal use of digital currencies. The collaboration with UNODC's Strategic Vision for Africa 2030 is concerned about the areas where crypto is being adopted the fastest.
Tether has partnered with UNODC following a $260 million Interpol-led seizure to strengthen crypto crime prevention in Africa. The initiative combines youth education, victim support, and enforcement cooperation. As crypto use grows across the region, the partnership aims to improve security frameworks and investigative capacity while supporting responsible digital finance.
