Interpol announced the arrest of 83 individuals across six African countries for alleged involvement in financing terrorism and related illegal activities. The operation, named “Operation Catalyst,” conducted from July to September 2025, was the first of its kind, targeting financial flows and schemes linked to terrorism financing and its support networks.
Of the 83 arrests, 21 were for terrorism-related crimes, 28 for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 for cyber-enabled scams, and 18 for the illicit use of virtual assets. Coordinated by Interpol and AFRIPOL, the two-month operation screened over 15,000 persons and entities, uncovering approximately USD 260 million in fiat and virtual currencies potentially tied to terrorism-related activities. About USD 600,000 has been seized, with further investigations ongoing to trace and recover additional assets.
Terrorism has increasingly spread across African nations, with Nigeria facing significant challenges from groups like Boko Haram and other emerging terrorist organizations.
