INTERPOL, AFRIPOL Crack Down on $562 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme with Major Arrests in Nigeria
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
A joint international operation spearheaded by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL has led to multiple arrests in Nigeria, including individuals linked to a $562 million cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims across 17 countries. The coordinated effort, codenamed Operation Catalyst, targeted financial crimes tied to terrorism financing and money laundering across Africa.
Operation Catalyst: Massive Cross-Border Sweep
According to Akahi News, INTERPOL confirmed that the two-month operation, conducted between July and September 2025, resulted in 83 arrests across six African nations, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Angola. Authorities also identified more than 160 persons of interest and traced illicit funds worth around $260 million in both fiat and cryptocurrency.
INTERPOL described Operation Catalyst as the first-of-its-kind coordinated initiative uniting financial crime, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism units from multiple African countries to dismantle networks funding terrorism through fraudulent financial schemes.
Nigerian Suspects Linked to Terrorism and Crypto Fraud
In Nigeria, security operatives arrested 11 suspected terrorists, including alleged senior members of extremist organisations. Investigations uncovered direct ties between Nigerian operatives and a global crypto Ponzi network that posed as a legitimate trading platform but was secretly funnelling funds to terrorist activities.
“Several high-value crypto wallets tied to the operation are now under forensic investigation, with transactions traced to terrorism-related activities,” INTERPOL revealed.
The scheme, which spanned countries including Cameroon and Kenya, reportedly affected over 100,000 victims worldwide.
Red Notice Issued for Key Mastermind
Akahi News learnt that INTERPOL has issued a Red Notice for one of the scheme’s alleged masterminds, accused of scamming victims of approximately $5 million through a sophisticated web of crypto wallets and exchanges used to hide money trails.
So far, authorities have seized $600,000 in cash and assets, with further recoveries expected as investigations progress. Over 15,000 individuals and entities were screened during the operation, with investigators tracing financial footprints across continents.
INTERPOL and AFRIPOL Praise African Collaboration
INTERPOL’s Secretary General, Valdecy Urquiza, hailed Operation Catalyst as a milestone for African law enforcement, emphasising that joint intelligence sharing was critical in dismantling terrorism financing networks.
“By sharing intelligence and resources, we can more effectively disrupt financial flows that support terrorist activities,” Urquiza stated.
AFRIPOL’s Executive Director, Ambassador Jalel Chelba, also commended the operation, noting that Africa’s united response demonstrates its growing ability to confront complex global threats.
“When African security agencies unite, they can offer a decisive and coordinated response to evolving security challenges,” Chelba added.
Private-Sector Support and Previous Cybercrime Success
Operation Catalyst was backed by data and cyber intelligence from private-sector partners, including Binance, Moody’s, and Uppsala Security, according to Akahi News.
This comes on the heels of Operation Serengeti 2.0, another major INTERPOL-led crackdown between June and August 2025, which led to the arrest of 1,209 suspected cybercriminals, the dismantling of over 11,000 malicious online infrastructures, and the recovery of $97.4 million stolen from nearly 88,000 victims.
Global Implications
Security experts told Akahi News that Operation Catalyst could mark a turning point in Africa’s response to cryptocurrency-related crimes, particularly as global regulators tighten oversight on digital assets used to launder illicit funds.
The operation highlights the growing intersection between cyber fraud and terrorism financing, a trend that continues to challenge law enforcement agencies across the world.
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