INTERPOL crackdown on West African crime rings uncovers troubling new trend

INTERPOL's Operation Jackal IV (Nov 2025–Jun 2026) targeted West African organized crime networks involved in cyber-enabled fraud, money laundering and sextortion across 22 countries — resulting in 58 arrests, 263 identified suspects, millions seized and an estimated €143 million stolen; key actions included South African raids on romance/investment scams targeting retirees, an Argentine Crime‑as‑a‑Service ring, Italian money‑laundering probes, and a Romanian call‑center crypto investment scam, while investigators warned of a rise in sextortion of minors and the outsourcing of criminal services via the dark web.