Kaspersky joins global cybercrime operation

Kaspersky, a cybersecurity company based in Russia, joined Operation Serengeti III, an international effort led by INTERPOL to combat cybercrime in Africa and the United States. The operation ran from June 29 to August 31, 2026, and involved investigators from 20 African countries and the U.S.

Operation targets major cyber threats

Operation Serengeti III focused on neutralizing cyberfraud, ransomware, business email compromise, online scams, and digital extortion. Nearly 66,000 victims were identified, and financial investigators estimate losses linked to these activities at $385 million.

Arrests and financial recovery

The operation led to the arrest of 1,462 suspects and the recovery of $105 million. In Uganda, authorities dismantled two transnational fraud networks and arrested 365 foreign nationals linked to investment and pension scams. In Angola, investigators arrested nine suspects involved in illegal cryptocurrency mining.

More cybercrime networks neutralized

In Nigeria, authorities arrested a suspect responsible for a large-scale phishing and BEC operation, recovering software credentials and about 2.1 million email addresses. Another investigation in Nigeria targeted an international investment fraud system promoted through messaging apps, leading to the arrest of a suspect. Nearly 11,000 malicious networks involved in cybercrimes were also neutralized.

Ongoing investigations and digital evidence

Several investigations from Operation Serengeti III remain active, with authorities continuing efforts to identify other suspects, trace illicit products, and analyze digital evidence. Kaspersky experts also provided data on network infrastructures used in botnet and DDoS attacks, as well as phishing and malicious URLs targeting internet users in Africa.

Importance of international cooperation

Neal Jetton, Director of Cybercrime at INTERPOL, emphasized that cybercriminal networks operate without regard for borders and that international cooperation is one of the most effective tools to dismantle criminal networks. Yuliya Shlychkova, vice president of Global Public Affairs at Kaspersky, stressed the importance of global cooperation in addressing transnational cybercrime.

Participating countries

The participating countries in Serengeti III included South Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the United States.

Kaspersky's role in cybersecurity

Kaspersky, an international cybersecurity company founded in 1997, protects individuals, businesses, critical infrastructures, and governments against cyber threats. Its Threat Research team focuses on threat analysis and technology design, ensuring that Kaspersky's cybersecurity solutions are based on a deep understanding of threats and are remarkably effective.