Interpol Arrests 11 ‘High-Level Members of Terrorist Groups’ in Nigeria

The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has arrested 11 suspected “high-level members of several terrorist groups” in Nigeria as part of a continent-wide crackdown on terrorism financing and related crimes.

The arrests were made during a two-month operation codenamed Operation Catalyst, conducted in collaboration with the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL). The exercise spanned six African countries — Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Sudan.

According to a statement by Interpol, the operation targeted “terrorism financing and the illegal activity supporting it,” combing through over 15,000 persons of interest and entities.

The agency said the coordinated raids uncovered $260 million in both fiat and virtual currencies “potentially linked to terrorism-related activities” while over $600,000 was seized.

“Of the 83 arrests, 21 were for terrorism-related crimes, 28 were for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 were linked to cyber-enabled scams and a further 18 were related to the illicit use of virtual assets,” Interpol said.

In Nigeria, 11 suspected insurgents were apprehended, while similar operations across the continent revealed complex money laundering schemes tied to extremist networks.

Interpol noted that “in one significant case from Angola, 25 individuals of multiple nationalities were detained following investigations into informal value transfer systems that were identified as connected to potential terrorist financing and money laundering.”

The agency also uncovered a cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme affecting 17 countries, including Nigeria, which “accumulated more than 100,000 victims around the world, with an estimated loss to victims of USD 562 million.”

Interpol said investigations into Operation Catalyst are still ongoing.