83 Arrests in ‘Landmark' Interpol Operation Hitting Crypto Terrorist Financing, Cybercrime in Africa

**Major Interpol Cryptocurrency Crackdown Nets 83 Arrests in African Anti-Terror Operation**

Interpol's landmark Operation Catalyst has delivered a significant blow to cryptocurrency-enabled terrorism financing and cybercrime across Africa, resulting in 83 arrests and flagging $260 million in suspicious fiat and digital assets. The international law enforcement operation successfully seized $600,000 in cryptocurrencies and traditional currencies linked to terrorist activities and cybercriminal networks.

This groundbreaking enforcement action highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of Bitcoin, blockchain technologies, and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms used by criminal organizations. The operation demonstrates law enforcement's enhanced capabilities to trace cryptocurrency transactions and dismantle digital asset money laundering schemes across African nations.

The seizures represent a critical victory in combating crypto-enabled terrorism financing, sending strong signals to cybercriminals exploiting blockchain anonymity features. Financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges face increased pressure to strengthen anti-money laundering (AML) compliance as authorities expand their digital asset tracking capabilities.

Operation Catalyst's success underscores the evolving regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies, potentially influencing Bitcoin price sentiment and institutional adoption strategies. The crackdown reinforces the importance of legitimate cryptocurrency use cases while deterring illicit blockchain activities across emerging markets.