At least 11 suspected “high-level members of several terrorist groups” have been arrested by the International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol, in Nigeria.
They were among the 83 suspects apprehended across six African countries, in an operation code-named ‘Operation Catalyst’.
Countries where arrests were made include Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia and South Sudan.
In a statement, Interpol revealed that the operation lasted two months and targeted “terrorism financing and the illegal activity supporting it”.
It added that over 15,000 persons of interest and entities were looked into.
The operation discovered $260 million in both fiat and virtual currencies and seized over $600,000.
“Of the 83 arrests, 21 were for terrorism-related crimes, 28 were for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 were linked to cyber-enabled scams and a further 18 were related to the illicit use of virtual assets,” the statement read in part.
