In a sweeping crackdown that underscores the growing nexus between digital finance and transnational crime, Interpol and Afripol have jointly executed Operation Catalyst, a continent-wide effort aimed at dismantling networks involved in terrorist financing, cybercrime, and large-scale fraud. Conducted between July and September this year, the operation resulted in 83 arrests across multiple African nations, the identification of $260 million in illicit crypto and fiat transactions, and the seizure of $600,000 so far.

The scale and sophistication of the operation mark it as one of the most significant global law enforcement initiatives targeting crypto-enabled criminal activity in Africa. Authorities say it not only disrupted key networks but also revealed how cryptocurrencies are increasingly being used to fund terrorism and launder illicit profits on the continent.

Operation Catalyst’s results highlight a growing challenge for global and regional law enforcement: the rapid digitalization of financial systems and the ease with which criminals can exploit them. Of the 83 individuals arrested, 21 were linked to terrorism, 28 to fraud and money laundering, 16 to online scams, and 19 to the illicit use of virtual assets.

The operation was part of an ongoing strategy to identify and disrupt financial flows related to terrorism, organized crime, and cyber fraud. Interpol’s data shows that the proliferation of mobile money systems, peer-to-peer crypto platforms, and virtual asset exchanges across Africa has made the region both a hub for innovation and a hotspot for cyber-financial exploitation.

As Interpol noted, “the rise in crypto adoption in Africa has coincided with a rise in crypto-fueled financial crimes.” The organization’s Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2025 revealed that two-thirds of its African member states reported cyber-related offences as accounting for a “medium to high” share of all crime—an alarming trend considering that, in regions such as West and East Africa, cybercrime already constitutes around 30% of reported criminal activity.

Among the most striking findings of Operation Catalyst was a massive crypto-based Ponzi scheme that masqueraded as a legitimate virtual exchange. The fraudulent platform defrauded more than 100,000 victims across at least 17 countries, including Nigeria, Cameroon, and Kenya, siphoning off an estimated $562 million.

According to Interpol, investigators discovered that several high-value crypto wallets associated with the scheme were “potentially linked to terrorism financing activities.” While investigations are ongoing, the revelation has triggered alarm among counterterrorism analysts, who have long warned that extremist organizations are turning to digital currencies to bypass traditional banking scrutiny.

A separate case in Kenya involved a money-laundering ring attempting to channel illicit funds through a registered virtual asset service provider. The unnamed exchange reportedly became a conduit for illegal transactions connected to terrorist financing networks. Authorities have so far identified 12 suspects, arresting two and freezing several crypto wallets under investigation.

Both cases illustrate the emerging role of crypto platforms-not merely as passive tools but as active conduits for organized criminal and extremist groups seeking to exploit digital anonymity.

The success of Operation Catalyst was in part due to growing collaboration between law enforcement agencies and private sector actors, particularly major crypto exchanges. Binance, Moody’s, and Uppsala Security were among the key partners that provided intelligence, analytics, and forensic support during the investigation.

A spokesperson for Binance’s Investigations team told Decrypt that the company’s data-sharing capabilities played a vital role:

“We supported local law enforcement by providing operational intelligence and analysis, supported by our forensic tools and data-sharing, to help disrupt this major criminal operation which was a coordinated effort with authorities across Africa.”

Binance’s team also emphasized that crypto exchanges are now becoming “one of the primary allies” for global law enforcement in combating financial crime. The exchange claims to have responded to nearly 65,000 law enforcement requests in the past year and provided training to over 14,800 registered officials worldwide.

Such cooperation reflects a paradigm shift. For years, regulators and governments viewed crypto exchanges with suspicion, often accusing them of facilitating financial crime. Now, the same platforms are emerging as indispensable partners in tracking, freezing, and recovering illicit funds.

Africa’s embrace of digital finance has been one of the most dramatic in the world. From mobile banking in Kenya to peer-to-peer crypto trading in Nigeria, digital payments are bridging gaps in financial inclusion. Yet, this very growth has also created fertile ground for exploitation.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest crypto market, has faced a surge in crypto-related fraud and corruption scandals. The country’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned that corrupt politicians and business elites are increasingly hiding illicit wealth in crypto wallets, beyond the reach of domestic banking oversight.

Interpol experts note that stablecoins and coin mixers are being used by cybercriminals to obscure money flows in ransomware, extortion, and scam operations. These tools make it exceedingly difficult for authorities to trace the ultimate beneficiaries of illicit transactions.

However, it is important to note, as Interpol clarified, that crypto is not the primary medium of payment for most cybercrimes. Traditional methods such as bank transfers and gift card scams remain prevalent. Yet, as access to digital assets becomes easier, the sophistication and international reach of criminal operations continue to grow.

While the seizure of $600,000 may seem modest compared to the $260 million in flagged transactions, officials stress that Operation Catalyst’s greatest achievement lies in mapping the financial infrastructure of Africa’s emerging cybercriminal networks. The arrests and ongoing investigations are expected to yield a broader understanding of how illicit funds move through digital ecosystems.

Interpol has also announced plans to strengthen data-sharing frameworks between African law enforcement agencies and global financial institutions. By improving blockchain forensics training and cross-border coordination, the organization hopes to close the enforcement gap that criminals currently exploit.

Afripol, meanwhile, is pushing for a continental digital crime task force, designed to centralize intelligence gathering and streamline legal cooperation between member states.

Operation Catalyst marks a milestone in Africa’s fight against digital and terror-related crime. It reveals both the potential and peril of the continent’s digital transformation-a transformation that has empowered millions but also opened new doors for exploitation.

Interpol’s efforts, supported by private sector actors like Binance, demonstrate that effective countermeasures require international cooperation, technological innovation, and continuous vigilance.

As Africa’s digital economy grows, so too will the complexity of its criminal underworld. The challenge for law enforcement will not merely be to chase crimes as they happen, but to anticipate the next wave of crypto-driven criminal evolution-and to ensure that technology serves justice rather than evades it.

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