Cryptocurrency network in Africa used to fund terrorists – Interpol
Interpol and Afripol have revealed a substantial operation targeting international cryptocrime, taking down a network functioning across 17 nations in Africa.
The overall damages from the deceitful plots reached around $562 million, where $260 million, as per detectives, were linked to the support of terrorist groups.
Over the two-month initiative, 83 individuals were apprehended and roughly $600,000 in virtual currency and currency was confiscated. The endeavor, termed Operation Africa Cyber Surge II, was overseen by cybersecurity divisions from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Egypt.
Per Interpol’s statement, the criminal group employed cryptocurrency platforms and tumblers to sanitize finances gained via internet scams, deceptive emails, and blackmail. In certain instances, digital wallets tied to the group served to remit resources to radical factions in the Middle East and the Sahel.
Interpol remarked that the inquiry was facilitated by innovative analytic instruments for observing blockchain dealings and collaboration with private sector firms.
