Operation Jackal IV: Interpol hits West African criminal networks

58 people arrested and 263 suspects identified. This is the outcome of Operation Jackal IV led by Interpol against West African organized crime networks. The operation, carried out between November 2025 and June 2026, mobilized 22 countries spread across six continents.

The International Criminal Police Organization indicates that this operation aimed in particular to combat money laundering according to the APS, identify wanted criminals, seize assets and strengthen arrests and legal proceedings. In a report published on its website, Interpol emphasizes that Jackal IV constitutes a response to the international expansion of criminal networks originating in West Africa, in particular the “Black Ax” and other similar groups.

According to Interpol, these criminal organizations are involved in a significant part of financial fraud facilitated by digital technologies. Romantic scams, cryptocurrency fraud and fake investment opportunities are among their main modes of operation. The organization also cites business email compromise fraud and other forms of serious and violent crime.

To dismantle these networks, Interpol claims to have strengthened cooperation between the police services of different countries, in particular through the sharing of intelligence, criminal analysis and support for operations. Specialized training was also provided to strengthen the capabilities of investigators in international money laundering cases.

“Operation Jackal IV demonstrates the power of international cooperation,” said Tomonobu Kaya, director of the Interpol Center against Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption. According to him, monitoring illicit financial flows makes it possible to directly attack the resources of criminal organizations and reduce their ability to profit from their activities.

Beyond the arrests, the operation also allowed Interpol to identify several worrying trends. The organization is warning in particular of the increase in sextortion targeting minors. Some victims are believed to be as young as 14 years old.

The modus operandi is generally similar: criminals approach their victims on social networks, gradually establishing a relationship of trust before pushing them to share images or videos of a sexual nature. Once the content has been obtained, the victims are threatened with its distribution to their loved ones or contacts if they do not pay a ransom.

This practice illustrates, according to Interpol, the ability of criminal networks to exploit digital platforms to extend their activities across borders. Another development noted by Interpol: certain criminal syndicates now call on external service providers to carry out tasks essential to their activities.

These services, grouped under the name “Crime-as-a-Service”, can in particular be acquired via the dark web. They allow criminal groups to outsource certain operations, such as money laundering or other functions necessary for the operation of their networks. For Interpol, this development reflects an increasing professionalization of organized crime, which now relies on skills and services available on the clandestine market.