Interpol arrests two Nigerians over $2.4m fraud
Operation Serengeti III targeted cybercrime, leading to arrests in phishing and investment scams.
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) arrested two suspects in Nigeria as part of Operation Serengeti III, a cybercrime enforcement operation. One suspect is linked to a phishing and business email compromise operation that amassed 2.1 million email addresses, with investigators recovering a luxury vehicle. A second suspect was arrested over an international investment fraud scheme promoted through messaging applications.
Financial investigations connected the investment fraud scheme to the movement of more than $2.4m in suspected criminal proceeds, much of which was allegedly laundered through cryptocurrency transactions. INTERPOL stated that the operation, coordinated between June 29 and August 31, 2026, involved law enforcement agencies from 21 countries. The names of the two Nigerian suspects were not disclosed.
Operation Serengeti III targeted cyber-enabled fraud, ransomware, business email compromise, online scams, and digital extortion. The 21 participating countries arrested 1,462 suspects and recovered more than $105m in illicit funds. Authorities identified 65,929 victims targeted by cybercriminal networks, with financial investigations linking activities to losses exceeding $385m.
Why it mattersTwo Nigerian suspects were arrested for involvement in international fraud schemes that moved over $2.4m in suspected criminal proceeds.