The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery, and Sustainable Development commends INTERPOL, the United Kingdom, and African law enforcement officials who worked diligently to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations that depend on open borders to commit crimes against innocent victims. The center also praises law enforcement authorities for the successful execution of Operation Serengeti 2.0.
By successfully targeting criminals who exploit technology and global market access to perpetrate transnational organized crime, the joint operation conducted by UK and African law enforcement officials under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) demonstrates that it is indeed possible to confront and reduce Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs). This operation underscores the vital importance of international cooperation and joint law enforcement coordination in addressing crimes that no single nation can tackle alone.
This milestone emphasizes the importance of partnerships among law enforcement, the private sector, and development partners in combating high-harm and high-impact financial crimes. It also underscores the urgency of addressing vulnerabilities in Africa’s digital and financial ecosystems that criminals exploit. Although the recovered USD 97.4 million is a significant achievement, it is modest compared to the huge losses victims face, such as the estimated USD 300 million stolen in Zambia’s online investment fraud scheme. The African Center urges that recovered funds be used for victim restitution and invested in strengthening prevention and investigation capacities across the continent. We applaud INTERPOL’s leadership, the dedication of African authorities, and the UK Government’s support through the FCDO, which continues to help African nations strengthen their responses to financial crime, asset recovery, and compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) frameworks.
As an organization committed to asset recovery, stronger compliance systems, and collaborative frameworks, we reaffirm our support for efforts to safeguard Africa’s economies, protect its citizens, and reduce the harmful impact of illicit financial flows on development. We encourage African governments and development partners to continue investing in capacity building, cross-border cooperation, and technological innovation to ensure that Africa is no haven for cybercriminals.
Signed:
African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development.
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