October 22, (THEWILL) — The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has uncovered over $260 million in suspected terror-linked funds and arrested 83 individuals across six African countries in a sweeping crackdown on terrorism financing and related crimes.
In a statement shared on its official X handle on Wednesday, INTERPOL described the coordinated exercise, known as “Operation Catalyst,” as a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to disrupt the financial networks fuelling terrorism and organised crime across the continent.
According to the global policing agency, the operation — jointly conducted with AFRIPOL between July and September 2025 — identified 160 additional persons of interest connected to illicit financial flows.
“83 arrests in landmark African operation against terrorism financing. A first-of-its-kind operation targeting terrorism financing and the illegal activity supporting it has led to 83 arrests across six African countries and the identification of 160 persons of interest. Operation Catalyst (July – September 2025) aimed to identify and disrupt financial flows and schemes found to have connections to terrorism financing and its support networks”, INTERPOL stated.
The breakdown of the arrests reveals that 21 suspects were detained for terrorism-related offences, 28 for financial fraud and money laundering, 16 for cyber-enabled scams, and 18 for the illicit use of virtual assets.
“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.”
During the two-month operation, authorities screened more than 15,000 individuals and entities, uncovering approximately USD 260 million in both traditional and digital currencies potentially linked to terrorist activities.
INTERPOL further disclosed that about USD 600,000 has already been seized, while investigations are ongoing to trace and recover additional funds and assets connected to terror financing networks.
“Over the two-month operation, jointly coordinated by INTERPOL and @AFRIPOLOfficial, authorities across participating countries screened more than 15,000 persons of interest and entities, uncovering around USD 260 million in both fiat and virtual currencies potentially linked to terrorism-related activities. Approximately USD 600,000 has already been seized, with additional investigations underway to trace and recover further assets.”
The agency noted that the operation underscores the importance of cross-border collaboration in detecting and dismantling the financial lifelines sustaining extremist groups operating across Africa.
“Operation Catalyst demonstrates the critical importance of cooperation among African countries in identifying and disrupting the financial infrastructure that supports terrorism”, INTERPOL added.
Security analysts have hailed the operation as a major breakthrough in Africa’s counter-terrorism efforts, highlighting that cutting off financial support remains key to weakening extremist organisations and curbing regional insecurity.
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