INTERPOL has arrested two suspects in Nigeria in separate cybercrime investigations, including an international investment fraud scheme linked to more than $2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds, according to a statement published on the agency's website and reported by Punch Newspapers on October 22, 2026.
The arrests formed part of Operation Serengeti III, a coordinated cybercrime enforcement effort run between June 29 and August 31, 2026, with law enforcement agencies from 21 countries taking part. Eswatini was among the participating nations, alongside Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
What the Nigerian arrests involved
According to the INTERPOL statement, Nigerian authorities arrested one suspect behind a large-scale phishing and business email compromise operation. The scheme harvested software credentials and amassed approximately 2.1 million email addresses. Investigators also recovered a luxury vehicle suspected to have been purchased with criminal proceeds.
The second arrest concerned an international investment fraud scheme promoted through messaging applications. Financial investigations linked that scheme to the movement of more than $2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds, much of which was allegedly laundered through cryptocurrency transactions.
INTERPOL did not disclose the names of the two suspects. TheStar and Promptnews both reported the arrests on October 22, confirming the figures cited in the INTERPOL statement.
“In Nigeria, authorities arrested a suspect behind a large-scale phishing and business email compromise operation that harvested software credentials and amassed approximately 2.1 million email addresses. Investigators also recovered a luxury vehicle suspected to have been purchased with criminal proceeds,” the statement read.
The wider results of Operation Serengeti III
Operation Serengeti III targeted cyber-enabled fraud, ransomware, business email compromise, online scams and digital extortion. The scale of the results was considerable. Across the 21 participating countries, authorities arrested 1,462 suspects, disrupted 10,909 malicious networks and recovered more than $105 million in illicit funds.
Investigators identified 65,929 victims targeted by cybercriminal networks. Financial investigations linked the criminal activities to losses exceeding $385 million.
Private-sector partners supported the operation with intelligence, technical analysis and operational expertise, helping investigators identify targets, map criminal networks and advance cases.
Why this matters for Eswatini
The participation of the Kingdom in an operation of this scope reflects a simple reality: cybercrime does not respect borders, and no country can afford to stand apart from coordinated enforcement. Criminal networks exploit technology to reach victims across national frontiers, and the funds they steal move quickly through channels that单个 national police forces struggle to monitor alone.
For Eswatini, the lesson is one of vigilance and order. Investment schemes promoted through messaging applications and fraudulent emails reach liSwati households just as they reach victims in Lagos or Nairobi. The public should treat unsolicited financial offers with caution, and report suspected fraud to the police rather than attempting private remedies.
What INTERPOL said about the operation
Neal Jetton, INTERPOL's Director of Cybercrime, said cybercrime networks exploited technology to target victims across national borders. He stressed that cooperation between states remains the most effective response.
“Operation Serengeti III reinforces a clear message: while cybercrime is increasingly borderless, international cooperation remains one of the most effective tools for disrupting criminal networks, recovering criminal assets and protecting communities from digital harm,” Jetton said.
The statement added that several investigations arising from the operation remained active. Authorities are continuing efforts to identify additional suspects, trace illicit proceeds and analyse seized digital evidence, so further arrests may follow in the participating countries, Nigeria included.
Frequently asked questions
How much money was recovered during Operation Serengeti III?
Authorities recovered more than $105 million in illicit funds across the 21 participating countries, according to INTERPOL. Financial investigations linked the criminal activities to losses exceeding $385 million.
Which countries took part in Operation Serengeti III?
Twenty-one countries participated, including Nigeria, Eswatini, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, the United States and Zimbabwe. The operation ran from June 29 to August 31, 2026.
What were the two Nigerian suspects accused of?
One suspect was linked to a phishing and business email compromise operation that harvested software credentials and around 2.1 million email addresses. The other was arrested over an investment fraud scheme tied to more than $2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds, much of it allegedly laundered through cryptocurrency.