Interpol’s Operation Jackal IV, an eight-month international law enforcement effort, has identified 263 cybercrime suspects and resulted in 58 arrests across 22 countries. The operation, which ran from November 2025 to June 2026, primarily targeted West African organized crime groups engaged in cyber-enabled financial fraud and money laundering.
The initiative aimed to disrupt illicit financial flows, identify high-value targets, seize criminal assets, and support prosecutions. This operation builds upon previous Interpol-led efforts, including Operation Jackal III in 2024, which led to 300 arrests.
Significant actions were taken in several countries. In South Africa, authorities raided seven locations linked to a syndicate running romance and investment scams that targeted retirees in English-speaking countries. This led to 39 arrests, the blocking of 257 bank accounts, and the seizure of approximately $2.67 million.
Romanian authorities dismantled a group operating an investment scam through a call center that promoted fraudulent high returns from stocks and cryptocurrencies. This network is estimated to have been responsible for stealing and laundering €143 million. Police arrested 11 individuals and seized about €330,000 ($385,000) in cash and cryptocurrency, along with six properties and luxury watches.
In Argentina, the operation identified a 196-person Crime-as-a-Service (CaaS) network. This group allegedly provided website domains and money laundering support to West African organized crime groups, resulting in 17 arrests.
Tomonobu Kaya, Director of the Interpol Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, emphasized that the operation’s success stemmed from tracking illicit financial flows across international borders, which he described as the "lifeblood" of organized crime.
Beyond financial fraud, investigators also noted an increase in sextortion cases targeting minors, with victims as young as 14 years old. Some criminal networks were found to be utilizing CaaS capabilities from external providers to outsource activities such as money laundering.
