Interpol operation with South Africa leads to more than 1,400 arrests
Interpol says Operation Serengeti Three, which ran between June and August across 21 countries, targeted online fraud, ransomware, scams and digital extortion. Investigators also identified almost 66,000 victims and recovered more than $105 million, Interpol said.
Interpol said the operation disrupted almost 11,000 malicious networks. Financial investigations linked the crimes to losses of more than $385 million.
Neal Jetton, Interpol's Director of Cybercrime, said the cooperation between countries was important in disrupting criminal networks and recovering stolen assets. He said cybercriminals increasingly exploit technology to target victims across national borders.
Key facts
- Who
- Neal Jetton (Interpol's Director of Cybercrime); Interpol (international police organisation that ran the operation)
- What
- Interpol reported that a major cybercrime operation involving South Africa and 20 other countries led to the arrest of more than 1,400 suspects. The operation ran between June and August and targeted cyber-enabled fraud, ransomware, online scams and digital extortion.
- When
- 23 October 2026
- Where
- South Africa
- Status
- Reported