KEY POINTS
- 83 arrests and USD 260 million traced to terrorism-linked networks.
- INTERPOL and AFRIPOL worked together to run the operation in six African countries.
- Data from the private sector and cyber intelligence were very important.
LYON, France, a coordinated transnational operation targeting terrorism financing and related criminal networks has led to 83 arrests and the identification of 160 persons of interest across six African countries, according to INTERPOL.
The three-month effort, Operation Catalyst (July–September 2025), marked the first joint initiative between INTERPOL and AFRIPOL focused specifically on disrupting financial flows connected to terrorism and its support structures.
Of those arrested, 21 were for terrorism-related offences, 28 for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 for cyber-enabled scams, and 18 for the illicit use of virtual assets.
Authorities investigated over 15,000 individuals and businesses, uncovering nearly $260 million in real and virtual currency potentially linked to terrorism. They have seized about $600,000 so far and are intensifying efforts to recover the remaining funds.
Complex web of crime and terror financing
INTERPOL said that networks who fund terrorism generally do so through a variety of illegal activities, such as fraud, internet scams, illegal commerce, Ponzi schemes, and the misuse of cryptocurrencies. This makes it very hard to find and stop them.
The operation’s intelligence-sharing phase brought together national financial crime, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism units, enhanced by input from private-sector partners such as Binance, Moody’s, and Uppsala Security.
“Operation Catalyst is the first time financial crime, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism units from multiple African countries have joined forces with INTERPOL and AFRIPOL to target terrorism financing,”
said an INTERPOL official.
“By sharing intelligence, expertise, and resources, we can better identify and disrupt financial flows that fund terrorism.”
AFRIPOL Executive Director, Ambassador Jalel Chelba, added: “The success of Operation Catalyst lies in the synergy among national units. This cooperation shows that Africa’s law enforcement, when united, can decisively respond to complex and evolving security threats.”
Highlights from participating countries
Angola:
Authorities detained 25 individuals of multiple nationalities linked to informal value transfer systems used for money laundering and possible terrorist financing.
The investigations led to the inspection of 30 businesses, the seizure of $588,000, 100 cell phones, 40 computers, and the freeze of 60 bank accounts.
Kenya: Investigators found a money laundering network based on virtual assets worth $430,000 and arrested two of the twelve suspects.
In a another case, two people were arrested for recruiting young people in East and North Africa for terrorist groups online. The money was tracked back to bitcoin accounts in Tanzania.
Nigeria: Authorities apprehended 11 people who were thought to be terrorists, including leaders of several groups.
A separate investigation found a bitcoin Ponzi scam that stole USD 562 million from more than 100,000 victims in 17 countries, including Cameroon, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Investigators found links between numerous of the scheme’s digital wallets and funding for terrorists.
INTERPOL also issued a Red Notice for a suspect behind a USD 5 million crypto scam, which used complex layering techniques to obscure fund origins and convert assets into fiat currency — a method consistent with known terror-financing typologies.
Under the ISPA programme funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, Operation Catalyst supported AFRIPOL’s mandate to combat transnational organized crime, terrorism, cybercrime, and financial crime across Africa.
Participating countries: Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Sudan
