Operation Red Card: A Groundbreaking Cybercrime Crackdown in Africa

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Overview of Operation Red Card

Between November 2024 and February 2025, the Red Card Operation emerged as a pivotal component of INTERPOL’s African Joint Operation Against Cybercrime (AFJOC). This collaborative operation united law enforcement bodies from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia, aiming to dismantle sophisticated cybercrime networks.

Preparation and Intelligence Exchange

The operation was underpinned by an extensive exchange of threat intelligence data, enriched by INTERPOL and private sector allies, notably Kaspersky. Kaspersky provided law enforcement with in-depth analyses of malicious Android apps targeting users across African nations, alongside insights into the malware’s supporting infrastructure.

Impact and Highlights

Operation Red Card led to the discovery of cybercrime cases impacting over 5,000 individuals. Key highlights include:

• Nigeria: The Nigerian police apprehended 130 suspects involved in cyber-enabled fraud, including online casino and investment scams. Among the arrested were 113 foreign nationals. These suspects, employing digital assets to conceal their illicit gains, were recruited globally to perpetrate scams in multiple languages.
• Zambia: Authorities detained 14 individuals suspected of being part of a gang that compromised victims’ phones through deceptive messages containing malicious links. Clicking these links installed malware, granting hackers control over messaging accounts and, eventually, the phones, enabling access to banking apps.
• Rwanda: Rwandan authorities arrested 45 members of a criminal network that defrauded victims of over US$305,000 in 2024. Tactics included impersonating telecom employees to access mobile banking accounts and posing as injured family members to request financial aid.
• South Africa: Local officials apprehended 40 suspects linked to an advanced SIM box fraud scheme. The operation seized 53 desktops and 1,000+ SIM cards. This system, which converts international calls to local ones, is often exploited for large-scale SMS phishing attacks.

Statements from Key Figures

Neal Jetton, Director of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate, remarked: “The success of Operation Red Card highlights the strength of international collaboration in tackling cybercrime, which transcends borders and significantly impacts individuals and communities. The significant seizures and arrests of key suspects underscore a strong message to cybercriminals: their activities will not go unpunished.“

Yuliya Shlychkova, Vice President of Global Public Affairs at Kaspersky, added: “Kaspersky is proud to support this INTERPOL-led initiative. The evolving threat landscape in Africa necessitates a collaborative dialogue and joint efforts between public and private sectors to address cybersecurity challenges. Operation Red Card exemplifies such cooperation, showcasing how private sector expertise and law enforcement’s extensive investigative capabilities can foster a more resilient cyber environment.“

Continued Collaboration

Kaspersky and INTERPOL have engaged in several joint operations to combat cybercrime across Africa. Kaspersky has supported two iterations of INTERPOL’s Africa Cyber Surge operations and contributed to INTERPOL’s collaboration with AFRIPOL. Last year, a partnership between AFRIPOL and Kaspersky was established to enhance cybersecurity across Africa, focusing on sharing comprehensive data on local cyber threats and crime trends.