The suspects were arrested in Kenya for allegedly recruiting young people from East and North Africa into terrorist groups through online platforms. Funds used for recruitment and radicalization were traced through a cryptocurrency trading platform to individuals based in Tanzania
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By The Weekly Vision Crime Desk
Four Kenyans are among 83 suspects arrested in a first-of-its-kind multinational operation targeting terrorism financing and related illegal activities across six African countries. Operation Catalyst, conducted between July and September and jointly coordinated by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL, sought to identify and disrupt financial flows and schemes linked to terrorism financing and its support networks.
Of the 83 arrests, 21 were for terrorism-related offences, 28 for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 for cyber-enabled scams, and 18 for the illicit use of virtual assets. The operation also led to the identification of 160 persons of interest.
In Kenya, investigators uncovered a suspected money-laundering scheme involving a virtual asset service provider believed to have potential links to terrorism financing. The operation, worth approximately US$430,000, involved 12 individuals, two of whom have already been arrested.
In a separate case, two other suspects were arrested in Kenya for allegedly recruiting young people from East and North Africa into terrorist groups through online platforms. Funds used for recruitment and radicalisation were traced through a cryptocurrency trading platform back to individuals based in Tanzania.
Over the two-month operation, authorities in participating countries screened more than 15,000 persons and entities, uncovering around US$260 million in both fiat and virtual currencies potentially linked to terrorism-related activities. Approximately US$600,000 has already been seized, with further investigations underway to trace and recover additional assets.
Law enforcement agencies noted that tackling terrorist financing remains particularly complex, as it often cuts across diverse criminal activities, including fraud, kidnapping for ransom, illicit trade, online scams, Ponzi schemes, and the misuse of virtual assets. These crimes can directly finance terrorist operations or indirectly support them through money laundering and intermediary networks.
To confront this multifaceted threat, participating countries shared intelligence on significant targets during the pre-operation phase. This was reinforced by strategic cyber intelligence from INTERPOL and AFRIPOL, alongside key data contributions from private-sector partners Binance, Moody’s, and Uppsala Security.
In Angola, 25 individuals of multiple nationalities were detained following investigations into informal value transfer systems linked to terrorism financing and money laundering. Police inspected 30 commercial establishments, seizing approximately US$588,000, 100 mobile phones, and 40 computers. Sixty bank accounts were also frozen.
In Nigeria, the operation led to the arrest of 11 suspected terrorists, including high-ranking members of several extremist groups. One notable transnational case involved a massive cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme, which falsely presented itself as an online trading platform and affected at least 17 countries, including Cameroon, Kenya, and Nigeria. The scam defrauded over 100,000 victims globally, with estimated losses of US$562 million. Investigations under Operation Catalyst revealed that several high-value crypto wallets linked to the scheme may have financed terrorist activities.
As part of the operation, a Red Notice was issued for a suspect believed to be behind another sophisticated cryptocurrency scam that defrauded victims of around US$5 million. The funds were diverted through multiple addresses and centralised exchange platforms to obscure the money trail and convert assets into fiat currency. Investigators believe the case shows several hallmarks of terrorist financing methodologies.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said: “Operation Catalyst marks the first time financial crime, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism units from multiple African countries have joined forces with INTERPOL and AFRIPOL to target the financing of terrorism. By sharing intelligence, expertise, and resources, we can more effectively identify and disrupt the financial flows that support terrorist activities, stay one step ahead of these threats, and keep our communities safe.”
Ambassador Jalel Chelba, AFRIPOL Executive Director, added: “The success of Operation Catalyst lies in the synergy and convergence of efforts among national units combating financial crime, cybercrime, and terrorism.
This joint endeavour demonstrates how coordinated action between Member States, facilitated by AFRIPOL and INTERPOL, can effectively address complex and evolving security threats. It stands as proof that when Africa’s law-enforcement community unites, it can deliver a decisive and effective response in the pursuit of a secure and stable continent.”
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