Written By Lisa Nyambura
A recent INTERPOL report has exposed a massive cybercrime operation where Kenyan hackers allegedly stole Ksh1.1 billion.
The heist, executed between September 2 and October 24, 2024, involved altering banking systems’ security protocols with fraudulent scripts.
The stolen funds were funneled into companies in the UAE, Nigeria, and China, as well as digital asset institutions across multiple jurisdictions.
INTERPOL’s investigations led to the arrest of 24 suspects, thanks to collaboration with private sector partners, including Internet Service Providers.
These partners provided intelligence, patched vulnerabilities, and secured critical infrastructure to aid the probe.
Dubbed Operation Serengeti, the crackdown spanned 19 African nations, resulting in 1,006 arrests and the dismantling of 134,089 malicious infrastructures.
Over 35,000 victims were identified, with financial losses exceeding Ksh 24 billion globally.
Significant cases included the arrest of eight suspects in Senegal—five of them Chinese nationals—linked to a Ksh 777 million online scam.
Authorities seized 900 SIM cards, Ksh1.4 million in cash, and digital devices.
In Angola, officials dismantled a fraudulent virtual casino targeting Brazilian and Nigerian gamblers, while Nigerian authorities arrested a man accused of cryptocurrency investment scams worth Ksh 38 million.
The report highlights the growing sophistication of cybercriminals and the need for intensified global collaboration to combat digital crime.
