A coordinated international operation led by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL has resulted in multiple arrests in Nigeria, including suspects linked to a cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors in 17 countries of more than $562 million.
The two-month operation, codenamed ‘Operation Catalyst’ ran from July to September 2025 and targeted financial crimes tied to terrorism financing and money laundering across Africa.
INTERPOL described the operation as the first of its kind, leading to 83 arrests across six African nations — including Nigeria, Kenya, and Angola — and the identification of more than 160 persons of interest. Authorities have so far traced illicit funds worth around $260 million in both fiat and virtual currencies.
In Nigeria, 11 suspected terrorists, including alleged senior members of extremist groups, were apprehended as part of the operation.
Investigators discovered links between Nigerian participants and a global cryptocurrency Ponzi network posing as a legitimate trading platform, which was later found to have connections to terrorist financing.
According to INTERPOL, the fraudulent operation spanned 17 countries, including Cameroon and Kenya, defrauding more than 100,000 victims.
“Several high-value crypto wallets tied to the operation are now under forensic investigation, with authorities tracing transactions suspected to have been funnelled into terrorism-related activities,” INTERPOL said.
INTERPOL disclosed that a Red Notice has been issued for one of the scheme’s alleged masterminds accused of scamming victims of roughly $5 million.
The suspect is believed to have used a complex web of crypto wallets and exchanges to conceal money trails and evade detection.
Across the six participating countries, over 15,000 individuals and entities were screened, leading to the seizure of about $600,000.
Authorities said further asset recovery efforts are ongoing, as investigations continue to trace funds linked to terrorism financing and financial fraud.