Eleven suspected terrorists, including senior figures allegedly tied to extremist networks in Nigeria and the wider Sahel, have been arrested as part of a sweeping international operation targeting terrorism financing and transnational crime.
The arrests came under Operation Catalyst, a two-month campaign led by INTERPOL and the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), carried out between July and September 2025 across six African nations — Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Sudan.
In total, 83 suspects were detained and 160 individuals identified as persons of interest in cases linked to terrorism financing, money laundering, cyber-enabled fraud, and the illicit use of virtual assets, according to a statement released by INTERPOL on Thursday.
“The operation led to the arrest of 11 suspected terrorists in Nigeria, including high-level members of several terrorist groups,” the statement said, adding that the suspects are believed to have played key roles in coordinating financial and logistical support for armed groups.
Investigators also uncovered a cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 100,000 victims across at least 17 countries — including Nigeria, Kenya and Cameroon — of over $562m. INTERPOL said several of the scheme’s crypto wallets were linked to terrorism financing activities, with inquiries ongoing.
In a related case, a Red Notice has been issued for a suspect accused of orchestrating another crypto scam worth roughly $5m, using multiple digital wallets and exchanges to conceal the movement of funds.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza hailed the operation as evidence of “the power of coordinated global law enforcement action in dismantling the complex web of terrorism financing.”
AFRIPOL’s Executive Director, Ambassador Jalel Chelba, praised the collaboration, describing it as proof of Africa’s growing capacity to respond to evolving transnational threats.
“This joint effort shows how coordinated action among member states can effectively address emerging security challenges and contribute to a stable and secure Africa,” Chelba said.
