Abuja, Nigeria – The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has arrested more than 300 individuals linked to one of West Africa’s most feared criminal networks in a sweeping operation conducted across 21 countries between April and July 2024. Dubbed “Operation Jackal III,” the covert missions targeted a highly-coordinated cybercrime group responsible for some of the world’s most significant cyber-enabled financial frauds, as well as other serious crimes.
According to a report by the BBC on Wednesday, Interpol described the operation as a “major blow” to the Nigerian crime network. However, the agency warned that the group’s global reach and technological sophistication continue to pose a serious threat worldwide.
Seizure of Illegal Assets and Disruption of Financial Networks
Operation Jackal III led to the seizure of $3 million in illegal assets and the freezing of more than 700 bank accounts linked to the criminal syndicate. Tomonobu Kaya, a senior official at Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, highlighted the role of financial technology and cryptocurrency in facilitating the operations of these cybercrime syndicates, known for their multi-million dollar online scams.
“These criminal syndicates are very organized and structured. They are early adopters of new technologies, which makes it easy for them to illegally move money around the world,” Kaya stated.
The Criminal Network’s Global Reach
The criminal network, known for its involvement in trafficking, prostitution, and contract killings, derives its largest source of revenue from cybercrime. Many of its members are university-educated and were recruited during their academic years, according to the report.
Interpol’s 2022 report indicated that this group, along with similar organizations, is responsible for the majority of the world’s cyber-enabled financial fraud, in addition to many other serious crimes. Since 2022, multiple “Jackal” operations have resulted in the arrest of dozens of members of this and other affiliated gangs, with electronic devices seized during these transnational raids.
In a notable case from 2017, Canadian authorities dismantled a money-laundering scheme linked to the network, which was valued at more than $5 billion (approximately £3.8 billion).
Global Rapid Intervention of Payments System
To counter the sophisticated tactics of these criminal groups, Interpol has launched the Global Rapid Intervention of Payments system, which allows authorities in its 196 member countries to freeze bank accounts worldwide with unprecedented speed. This system was recently used to halt a $40 million scam targeting a Singaporean business in July 2024.
“We need to have data and to collate our findings from these countries to help build a picture of their modus operandi. If we can gather this data, we can take action,” Kaya emphasized.
Call for Greater Governance and Prevention
Dr. Oluwole Ojewale, a coordinator from the Institute for Security Studies, criticized the Nigerian government for its lax approach to curbing criminal groups such as this one. He pointed to politicians who allegedly use members of these syndicates for personal gain, providing them with the tools to defraud innocent people and commit other crimes.
“The general failure of governance in the country has put pressure on people to be initiated into these criminal groups. It is the politicians who are arming these boys,” Ojewale asserted. He also emphasized the importance of focusing on prevention rather than solely on operations against these criminal groups.
Nigerian Government’s Response
In February 2024, President Bola Tinubu pledged increased support for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to enhance its capacity to tackle digital offences. He also condemned the “mislabelling and blanket stereotyping” of Nigeria as a country with the highest prevalence of cybercrime.
In November 2023, the Nigerian Senate expressed concerns over the annual loss of $500 million to various forms of cybercrime across the country. The Senate warned that if the national cybersecurity program is not effectively funded, the gains of the digital economy would be undermined.
Roots of Operation Jackal
Interpol’s Jackal Operations trace their origins to Ireland. In 2020, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) identified 1,000 people with links to the network and arrested several members, leading to the exposure of a far-reaching criminal syndicate.
Michael Cryan, a detective superintendent at the GNECB who led the operation, revealed that Ireland had experienced a surge in money laundering activities tied to the criminal network. “They were very under the radar, very low-key. The amount of money being laundered through Ireland was astronomical,” Cryan said, noting that over €1 million in crypto-assets were seized during one operation.
As global law enforcement agencies continue to grapple with the challenges posed by these sophisticated criminal networks, the need for technological expertise and international cooperation has never been more crucial.