Security Officials have confirmed that Over 20 people have been arrested in Kenya for online credit card fraud in an operation led by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
In a statement by the international police body on Wednesday, November 26, police in Kenya effected the arrests during an operation named Operation Serengeti.
INTERPOL detailed that the operation was conducted between September 2 and October 31, 2024.
"In Kenya, officers cracked a case of online credit card fraud linked to losses of USD 8.6 million," read the statement in part.
"The funds, stolen through fraudulent scripts run after altering the banking system’s security protocol, were promptly redistributed by the group via SWIFT to companies in the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and China and subsequently, to digital asset institutions offering trading and financial services regulated in multiple jurisdictions."
On the other hand, INTERPOL indicated that similar operations were carried out across several countries in Africa as police targeted criminals targeting innocent people in digital spaces.
"More than 35,000 victims were identified during the operation, with cases linked to nearly USD 193 million in financial losses worldwide," the organization added.
"Information provided by participating countries of ongoing cases with INTERPOL fed into 65 Cyber Analytical Reports that were produced to ensure actions on the ground were intelligence-led and focused on the most significant actors."
In Other News, The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor announced on Wednesday plans to request an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, over alleged crimes against humanity targeting the Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim minority.
The Rohingya crisis escalated in 2017 when over a million people fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state to Bangladesh, following a military offensive described by UN investigators as “textbook ethnic cleansing.”
Reports cite mass killings, gang rapes, and the destruction of villages by soldiers, police, and Buddhist mobs.
While Myanmar denies the allegations, claiming operations targeted militants, the ICC prosecutor’s decision is seen as a critical step toward justice.
Tun Khin, president of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, called it a “rare day of celebration” for the Rohingya.
A panel of ICC judges will review the case to determine if there are reasonable grounds to issue the warrant. The process could take months.
Myanmar, not an ICC member, falls under the court’s jurisdiction through Bangladesh, an ICC state party.
This move is part of a five-year investigation into the Rohingya crisis.
While significant, challenges remain in apprehending Min Aung Hlaing, who rarely travels outside Myanmar.
However, experts believe this step is vital to addressing impunity and preventing further atrocities.
