By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Eleven suspected terrorists, including senior operatives from multiple extremist groups, have been detained in Nigeria following an international security operation led by INTERPOL in partnership with the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation.
The initiative, named Operation Catalyst, targeted the disruption of terrorism financing networks and other transnational crimes across Africa. Carried out over two months, from July to September 2025, the operation involved coordinated action in six countries: Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Sudan.
A statement released by INTERPOL, obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, confirmed that the operation led to 83 arrests and the identification of 160 individuals of interest suspected of involvement in terrorism financing, money laundering, cyber-enabled fraud, and the illicit use of virtual assets.
“The 11 suspects arrested in Nigeria are believed to be high-level operatives with links to multiple terrorist groups operating within the country and the wider Sahel region,” the statement said.
“In Nigeria, the operation led to the arrest of 11 suspected terrorists, including high-level members of several terrorist groups,” INTERPOL added.
The statement also disclosed that authorities uncovered a cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme disguised as a legitimate online trading platform, which defrauded victims across at least 17 countries—including Cameroon, Kenya, and Nigeria—of over $562 million.
“The scheme accumulated more than 100,000 victims globally. Investigations found that several large-valued crypto wallets were potentially linked to terrorism financing activities. The case remains under active investigation,” the statement noted.
In addition, INTERPOL issued a Red Notice for a suspect connected to another sophisticated cryptocurrency scam, which siphoned roughly $5 million through multiple addresses and centralised exchanges to conceal the money trail.
INTERPOL Secretary General, Valdecy Urquiza, said the operation highlighted the impact of international collaboration in tackling terrorism financing.
“Operation Catalyst shows the power of coordinated global law enforcement action in dismantling the complex web of terrorism financing,” he said.
Similarly, AFRIPOL Executive Director Ambassador Jalel Chelba praised the initiative, emphasising Africa’s enhanced capacity to respond collectively to transnational security threats.
“This joint effort shows how coordinated action among member states can effectively address evolving security threats and contribute to a stable and secure Africa,” Chelba added.