Nigeria has apprehended 11 individuals in a major crackdown on terrorism financing as part of INTERPOL’s continent-wide Operation Catalyst.
The arrests are part of a larger operation spanning six African nations, which identified 160 individuals of interest and saw 83 suspects detained across Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Sudan.
The operation, conducted between July and September 2025, also uncovered a massive cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme affecting over 100,000 victims in 17 countries, including Nigeria.
Investigators say the scheme amassed around $562 million, with assets currently being traced and recovered to prevent links to terrorism financing.
Authorities screened over 15,000 individuals and entities, uncovering roughly $260 million in fiat and virtual currencies potentially tied to terrorism-related activities.
So far, approximately $600,000 has been seized. INTERPOL has also issued a Red Notice for a suspect behind a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam that defrauded victims of roughly $5 million, with indications that the funds may have been used to support terrorist activities.
The operation was coordinated by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL, with support from private-sector partners including Binance, Moody’s, and Uppsala Security.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza highlighted the significance of the collaboration, noting, “Operation Catalyst is 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.”
This initiative underscores Nigeria’s growing commitment, alongside other African nations, to disrupt financial flows that fund terrorist activities and strengthen security across the continent.
