The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has announced the arrest of 11 senior members of terrorist groups in Nigeria as part of Operation Catalyst, a major operation targeting terrorism financing and related crimes across six African nations.
According to INTERPOL, the three-month operation—conducted between July and September 2025—resulted in 83 arrests and the identification of 160 persons of interest. The participating countries were Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, and South Sudan.
In Nigeria, the agency confirmed the arrest of 11 suspects believed to be high-ranking members of various terrorist organisations. The operation also uncovered financial networks funding terrorism through illegal transactions and online fraud schemes.
INTERPOL revealed that more than 15,000 individuals and entities were screened, uncovering over USD 260 million in fiat and virtual currencies linked to terrorist financing. About USD 600,000 has already been seized, while further investigations are underway to trace additional assets.
The agency said the operation exposed financial fraud, cyber-enabled scams, money laundering, and misuse of virtual assets as key channels for terrorist funding.
Coordinated jointly by INTERPOL and the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), the initiative marked a new level of cross-border collaboration.
“Operation Catalyst is the first time financial crime, cybercrime and counter-terrorism units from multiple African countries have joined forces,” said Valdecy Urquiza, INTERPOL’s Secretary General. “By sharing intelligence, expertise, and resources, we can more effectively disrupt financial flows supporting terrorist activities.”
AFRIPOL’s Executive Director, Ambassador Jalel Chelba, hailed the success of the operation as a demonstration of Africa’s united front against terrorism, stressing that coordinated regional action is key to tackling complex security threats.
In related operations, Angolan authorities arrested 25 suspects, seizing USD 588,000, 100 phones, and 40 computers. In Kenya, police dismantled a USD 430,000 virtual asset laundering network linked to terrorism, while another group was caught using cryptocurrency to recruit youths into extremist organisations.
INTERPOL further revealed a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims across 17 countries, including Nigeria, of USD 562 million, and issued a Red Notice for a suspect behind a USD 5 million crypto scam used to fund terrorism.
The operation was carried out under the ISPA programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, to strengthen AFRIPOL’s fight against transnational organised crime and terrorism. Investigations into the financial networks and assets remain ongoing.