300 arrested in Interpol crackdown on Black Axe network

300 arrested in Interpol crackdown on Black Axe network

Law enforcement agencies across 21 countries have targeted the Black Axe criminal network in a series of coordinated raids known as Operation Jackal III, which has resulted in 300 arrests.

The Interpol-led operation sought to thwart the advanced cybercrime activities and worldwide reach of the West African mafia.

Black Axe, originating in Nigeria, is known for its involvement in trafficking, prostitution, and cyber-enabled financial fraud. “They are very organised and very structured,” said Tomonobu Kaya, a senior Interpol official, to the BBC, in a report tracking the group’s adoption of new technologies, including cryptocurrency for money laundering.

Operation Jackal III, years in the making, led to the seizure of $3 million in assets and the freezing of over 700 bank accounts. The operation built upon previous Jackal raids, enabling Interpol to develop a comprehensive intelligence database shared among its 196 member countries.

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Despite these efforts, experts emphasise the need for preventative measures in West Africa to address the root causes of such criminal activity. Dr Oluwole Ojewale of the Institute for Security Studies stressed the importance of tackling “the general failure of governance” that drives recruitment into groups like Black Axe.

The Jackal operations originated in Ireland following Garda raids in 2020 that exposed a significant Black Axe network. Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan highlighted the scale of money laundering through Ireland and the increasing sophistication of cybercrime, stating, “Bank robberies are now done with laptops.”

More than 1,000 people connected to Black Axe have been identified in Ireland, with many of them having been arrested. A recent operation that resulted in the seizure of over €1 million in bitcoin assets exposed the group’s growing usage of cryptocurrencies for money laundering.

Interpol has deployed new technologies like the I-GRIP system to counter these tactics, enabling rapid freezing of bank accounts globally. Mr. Kaya emphasised the importance of international collaboration and intelligence sharing to combat Black Axe and similar syndicates, stating, “If we can gather this data, we can take action.”

300 arrested in Interpol crackdown on Black Axe network

(Source: BBC)