LYON, Oct. 22, 2025 — A joint initiative by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL has resulted in the arrest of 83 individuals and the identification of 160 persons of interest in a sweeping operation targeting terrorism financing and its enabling crimes across six African countries.
Dubbed Operation Catalyst, the effort ran from July to September 2025 and focused on dismantling financial schemes that support terrorist networks. Participating countries included Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Sudan INTERPOL.
Arrests and Offenses
The arrests spanned a range of offenses:
- 21 individuals were detained for terrorism-related crimes
- 28 for financial fraud and money laundering
- 16 for cyber-enabled scams
- 18 for the illicit use of virtual assets
Authorities screened over 15,000 individuals and entities, uncovering approximately $260 million in suspicious financial activity involving both fiat and cryptocurrency. So far, $600,000 has been seized, with further asset recovery efforts ongoing INTERPOL Africanews.
Strategic Significance
INTERPOL described the operation as the first coordinated effort of its kind on the continent, aimed at disrupting the financial arteries of terrorism. The initiative also highlighted the growing use of digital platforms and virtual currencies in laundering funds and financing extremist groups.
Jürgen Stock, INTERPOL Secretary General, emphasized the operation’s impact:
“By targeting the financial infrastructure of terrorism, we are striking at the heart of its operational capacity.”
Regional Cooperation and Future Outlook
Operation Catalyst showcased the value of cross-border intelligence sharing, with participating nations leveraging INTERPOL’s databases and AFRIPOL’s regional expertise. The operation is expected to serve as a template for future collaborative security efforts in Africa and beyond.
Investigations are ongoing, with authorities pursuing leads to dismantle broader networks and trace additional assets. The operation also underscored the need for enhanced regulatory frameworks to monitor virtual asset transactions and prevent abuse by criminal organizations.
Summary: Operation Catalyst marks a pivotal moment in Africa’s fight against terrorism financing, with 83 arrests, $260 million in suspicious funds identified, and a renewed focus on cross-border cooperation to combat financial crimes linked to extremism.
Sources: INTERPOL; Africanews.
Interpol-Image-by-Dmytro-Konovalenko
