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INTERPOL Operation Jackal IV Nets 58 Arrests and Maps Global Laundering Web

The probe tracked cross‑border money flows to crime‑service providers and pushed authorities to prioritize breaking laundering networks.

Overview

  • Interpol announced Tuesday that Operation Jackal IV, an eight‑month action across 22 countries, identified 263 suspects and led to 58 arrests linked to West African organized cybercrime.
  • South African raids produced the largest national haul with 39 arrests, $2.67 million seized and 257 bank accounts frozen in a syndicate that targeted retirees with romance and investment scams.
  • Argentinian investigators tied 196 people to a Crime‑as‑a‑Service network that supplied web domains and money‑laundering support, resulting in 17 arrests and forensic data for wider mapping.
  • Romanian police dismantled a call‑center investment scam that Interpol estimates funneled about €143 million worldwide, yet authorities recovered only a fraction in cash, crypto and assets.
  • The operation exposed two pressing trends—criminals buying outsourced laundering services on the dark web and a rise in sextortion targeting minors—which Interpol says will shape follow‑up prosecutions and disruption efforts.