75 suspected cyber criminals linked to Nigeria have been arrested during an Interpol-led operation involving 14 countries across the world.
The suspects allegedly swindled multiple victims of millions of dollar, the statement from Interpol on Friday revealed.
The arrest and search by the International Police Organisation (Interpol) was prompted by the lavish lifestyles and greed of many of the suspects.
This led to 49 searches, seizing, among other, 12,000 SIM cards during the execution of Operation Jackal, which took place from September 26 to September 30.
Officers also seized various luxury assets, including a residential property, three cars and tens of thousands in cash.
Interpol described the group as one that is “rapidly becoming a major security threat worldwide”.
The report reads, “Operation Jackal marks the first time INTERPOL has coordinated a global operation specifically against Black Axe, which is rapidly becoming a major security threat worldwide.
“Black Axe and similar groups are responsible for the majority of the world’s cyber-enabled financial fraud as well as many other serious crimes, according to evidence analyzed by INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) and national law enforcement.
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“In South Africa alone, the two suspects arrested were wanted for online scams that extracted USD 1.8 million from victims.
“Over one coordinated ‘action week’ (26-30 September), police worldwide launched enforcement operations against individuals linked to the Black Axe group, arresting suspected criminal operators or money mules, raiding and shutting down premises and seizing assets related to ongoing cases.
“Two INTERPOL operational support teams were also deployed to South Africa and Ireland respectively to help coordinate international law enforcement teams on the ground.
“In Italy, the Carabinieri made three arrests in Campobasso within the framework of the operation.
“In total, the operation resulted in: EUR 1.2 million intercepted in bank accounts, 75 arrests, 49 property searches, 7 INTERPOL Purple Notices, detailing criminal modus operandi, 6 INTERPOL Red Notices, issued for internationally-wanted fugitives.
“The immense quantity of assets seized, including 12,000 SIM cards, have provided new investigative leads for law enforcement, generating 13 analytical reports and allowing police to identify more than 70 additional suspects.
“The lavish lifestyles and greed of many suspects – allegedly paid for by defrauding members of the public of their savings and other criminal activities – was on clear display at the scenes of their arrest.
“Various luxury assets were seized, including residential property, three cars and tens of thousands in cash.
“The operation also saw INTERPOL successfully deploy its new global stop-payment mechanism known as the Anti-Money Laundering Rapid Response Protocol (ARRP), currently in its pilot stage. Used within the framework of INTERPOL’s Global Financial Crime Task Force, the ARRP enables member countries to quickly intercept illegal proceeds of crime.”
The Executive Director of Police Services, Interpol, Stephen Kavanagh, said, “Illicit financial funds are the lifeblood of transnational organised crime, and we have witnessed how groups like Black Axe will channel money gained from online financial scams into other crime areas, such as drugs and human trafficking.
“These groups demand a global response.”