The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested 130 suspects, including 113 foreign nationals, as part of Operation Red Card, an Interpol-led effort targeting cybercrime networks across Africa.

According to Kaspersky, a cybersecurity firm that provided threat intelligence for the operation, the suspects were allegedly involved in online casino and investment fraud schemes. They were recruited from multiple countries to operate scams in various languages, with proceeds converted into digital assets to evade detection.

Interpol, Kaspersky support crackdown on cybercrime

Operation Red Card, conducted between November 2024 and February 2025, was part of Interpol’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) that involved seven countries: Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia.

Kaspersky, the cybersecurity company says in a statement made available to Technology Times, played a key role by sharing threat intelligence data with law enforcement agencies. The company’s analysis of a malicious Android application provided critical insights into the cybercriminal infrastructure behind these scams.

Speaking on the operation’s success, Neal Jetton, Interpol’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, says, “The success of Operation Red Card demonstrates the power of international cooperation in combating cybercrime, which knows no borders and can have devastating effects on individuals and communities. The recovery of significant assets and devices, as well as the arrest of key suspects, sends a strong message to cybercriminals that their activities will not go unpunished.”

Cybercrime crackdown extends across Africa

While Nigeria recorded the highest number of arrests, other participating countries also made significant breakthroughs:
• Zambia: Authorities dismantled a syndicate that hacked victims’ phones using a malicious link to install malware, giving criminals access to banking apps and messaging accounts.
• Rwanda: Officials arrested 45 members of a criminal network that defrauded victims of over $305,000 in 2024 through social engineering scams. Scammers posed as telecoms employees or injured family members to deceive victims.
• South Africa: Authorities seized over 1,000 SIM cards and arrested 40 suspects linked to SIM box fraud, a technique used for large-scale SMS phishing attacks.

Kaspersky highlights need for cybersecurity collaboration

Kaspersky reaffirms its commitment to combating cybercrime in Africa, noting its previous collaborations with Interpol and Afripol. The tech security company says it has also supported Interpol’s Africa Cyber Surge operations and contributed to intelligence-sharing on cybercrime trends in the region.

Yuliya Shlychkova, Vice President of Global Public Affairs at Kaspersky, umderscores the importance of public-private cooperation in tackling cyber threats,

“Kaspersky is proud to be part of this collaborative effort led by Interpol. The evolving threat landscape in Africa requires a multi-stakeholder dialogue and joint efforts of public and private organisations to address the cybersecurity challenges the region faces today. The Red Card operation is a notable example of such cooperation, showcasing how the expertise of private companies coupled with extensive investigative capacities of law enforcers can foster a more cyber-resilient environment.”