Keypoints:
- 260 suspects held in 14 nations
- Victims lost nearly $2.8 m to scams
- Ghana, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire top arrests
A SWEEPING Interpol operation has led to the arrest of 260 people across 14 African countries for alleged involvement in online romance and sextortion scams. The international police agency announced on Friday that the crackdown ran through July and August, aiming to disrupt networks exploiting victims for cash and compromising images.
Interpol reported that more than 1,400 individuals worldwide were targeted, losing almost $2.8 million to the schemes. The scams typically lure victims into fake romantic relationships or blackmail them with explicit photos or videos.
Sharp rise in digital crimes
‘Cybercrime units across Africa are reporting a sharp rise in digital-enabled crimes such as sextortion and romance scams,’ said Cyril Gout, Interpol’s acting executive director of police services. He warned that the expansion of online platforms has created fresh opportunities for criminals, inflicting both financial and psychological harm.
Interpol, headquartered in Lyon, France, is the world’s largest international policing network, with 196 member countries. It helps national forces share intelligence and track suspects in areas from counterterrorism and financial crime to child exploitation and cybercrime.
Ghana, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire lead arrests
Ghana recorded the highest number of arrests, with 68 suspects accused of creating fake identities to collect bogus shipment fees and secretly record explicit videos for blackmail, according to Interpol.
In Senegal, police detained 22 people who allegedly posed as celebrities on social media and dating sites to defraud more than 100 victims of about $34,000.
Authorities in Cote d’Ivoire arrested 24 suspects accused of using fabricated profiles to obtain and threaten victims with intimate images.
Global challenge for law enforcement
Interpol noted that cybercrime and child exploitation are rising challenges for law enforcement worldwide. The agency continues to coordinate cross-border operations despite geopolitical tensions among member states and the rapid growth of online crime.
The latest African operation underscores the need for stronger international collaboration to counter fast-evolving digital scams and protect vulnerable internet users.
