"Red Card 2.0": Large-scale raid targets cybercrime in Africa

An Interpol-coordinated covert investigation across 16 African countries has dealt a severe blow to transnational cybercrime networks. The large-scale raid in December 2025 and January 2026 led to the arrest of 651 suspects and the seizure of over 4.3 million US dollars. The operation, codenamed "Red Card 2.0," targeted criminal networks behind high-yield investment scams, mobile money fraud, and fraudulent credit schemes. This is according to a statement from Interpol.

Over eight weeks of intensive investigations, authorities uncovered numerous fraud cases involving financial losses exceeding 45 million US dollars. Investigators identified 1,247 victims – primarily in African countries – seized 2,341 electronic devices, and neutralized 1,442 malicious IP addresses, domains, and servers, it was stated.

"These organized cybercriminal syndicates inflict devastating financial and psychological damage on individuals, businesses, and entire communities with their false promises. Operation Red Card underscores the importance of cooperation in combating cross-border cybercrime," said Neal Jetton, Director of Interpol's Cybercrime Directorate, urging victims of cybercrime to report incidents to law enforcement.

The operation, conducted from December 8, 2025, to January 30, 2026, was part of the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) and received support from the European Union and Council of Europe's GLACY-e project. Law enforcement agencies from sixteen countries participated: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Chad, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Investigation successes in individual states

In Nigeria, a network recruiting young people for cybercrime activities such as phishing, identity theft, social engineering, and fake digital asset investment schemes was dismantled. Investigators deleted over 1,000 fraudulent social media accounts. In a separate operation, Nigerian authorities arrested six individuals who had infiltrated the internal platform of a major telecommunications provider using compromised employee credentials to siphon off "significant amounts" of call time and data for illegal resale.

In Ivory Coast, 58 suspects were arrested. In an operation targeting credit card fraud, authorities seized 240 mobile phones, 25 laptops, and over 300 SIM cards. In Kenya, 27 individuals were detained in connection with fraud schemes that used messaging apps, social media, and fake testimonials to lure victims into making false investments in reputable global companies.

"Red Card 2.0" was the second major coordinated action against cybercrime across Africa within six months. In the "Serengeti 2.0" operation in 18 African states last August, authorities arrested 1,209 individuals and seized nearly 100 million US dollars.

(akn)