INTERPOL has arrested 83 individuals across six African countries including four Kenyans in a sweeping operation targeting terrorism financing and related criminal activities. The operation, conducted jointly with AFRIPOL between July and September 2025, focused on identifying and disrupting illicit financial flows linked to terrorism networks.
According to INTERPOL’s report released on Wednesday, October 22, the operation screened more than 15,000 persons and entities across participating nations. Investigators uncovered approximately Ksh33 billion ($260 million) in both fiat and virtual currencies tied to fraudulent or terror-related activities.
In Kenya, a suspected money laundering ring involving a virtual asset service provider was discovered to have possible links to terrorism financing. The scheme, valued at Ksh55 million, involved 12 suspects two of whom have been arrested. In another case, two Kenyan nationals were detained for allegedly using online platforms to recruit youth from East and North Africa into extremist groups. INTERPOL traced the funding for these recruitment operations through a cryptocurrency trading platform to individuals in Tanzania.
A transnational case also exposed a massive cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme that operated under the guise of a legitimate trading platform. The scam defrauded victims across 17 countries including Kenya, Cameroon, and Nigeria resulting in losses exceeding Ksh72 billion ($562 million).
In Nigeria, the crackdown led to the arrest of 11 suspected terrorists, including senior members of notorious groups.
Money laundering and illicit financial flows remain significant challenges across Africa, particularly in Kenya. The country was placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in February 2024 for inadequate anti-money laundering measures. Despite recent reforms, Kenya has yet to be delisted, underscoring the persistent risks posed by financial crimes and terror-linked funding networks.
