25 bitcoin mining centres operated by 60 Chinese nationals in Angola have been shut down.
Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organisation, in collaboration with local law enforcement across several African countries, has announced the arrest of 1,209 cybercriminals linked to attacks on nearly 88,000 victims.
As part of the operation, authorities dismantled 11,432 malicious infrastructures and recovered a total of $97.4 million.
A key focus of the Interpol-led crackdown was illegal bitcoin mining in Angola, where officials uncovered 25 cryptocurrency mining centers run by 60 Chinese nationals.
Interpol, in collaboration with local authorities across multiple African countries, has intensified its crackdown on cybercrime and illegal crypto-related activities.
In Angola, officials uncovered 45 illicit power stations used for unauthorized bitcoin mining. Mining and IT equipment worth over $37 million was seized, and the confiscated resources will now be redirected to support power distribution in vulnerable regions. Angola became a hotspot for crypto mining due to its low energy costs, but the government banned the practice in 2024 to protect the national power grid. Penalties for illegal mining range from one to five years in prison, while those who connect rigs to the national power supply face harsher sentences of three to 12 years. The Chinese embassy in Angola had even issued a warning last year, advising its citizens to comply with local laws and avoid involvement in crypto mining.
Meanwhile, in Zambia, authorities dismantled a large-scale online fraud network that scammed around 65,000 victims, resulting in losses of nearly $300 million. Fifteen suspects were arrested, and crucial evidence โ including domains, mobile numbers, and bank accounts โ was seized. Interpol confirmed that investigations are still ongoing as officials work to track international collaborators behind the scheme.
As part of the same enforcement campaign, dubbed Operation Serengeti 2.0 (June to August 2025), authorities also disrupted a suspected human trafficking network in Zambia. The operation falls under the African Joint Operation Against Cybercrime, which is partially funded by the UK Foreign Office.
In Cรดte dโIvoire, law enforcement successfully dismantled a transnational inheritance scam originating from Germany. The primary suspect was arrested, and assets such as electronics, jewelry, vehicles, cash, and documents were seized. The scam tricked victims into paying fake fees to claim nonexistent inheritances, causing an estimated $1.6 million in losses.
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza praised the success of these coordinated actions, saying:
> โEach Interpol-coordinated operation builds on the last โ deepening cooperation, enhancing information sharing, and improving investigative skills across member countries. With stronger collaboration and shared expertise, our impact continues to grow, delivering real results and protecting victims worldwide.โ
The crackdown also reflects a global trend of tightening restrictions on crypto mining. According to Cointelegraph, several countries have passed new laws to regulate or ban mining operations due to concerns about power shortages. For instance, in Russiaโs Republic of Buryatia, authorities recently discovered 95 mining rigs and a mobile transformer hidden inside a truck, illegally siphoning electricity.
Back in 2023, Libyan authorities cracked down on illegal cryptocurrency mining, dismantling a major operation in the western region of the country and arresting 50 Chinese nationals. Shortly after, another illegal mining setup was discovered and shut down in the port city of Misrata, leading to the detention of 10 more Chinese nationals.
Across Africa, the growing energy demands from domestic users are putting significant pressure on power grids, pushing several countries to tighten restrictions on bitcoin mining. Ethiopia, for instance, recently suspended the issuance of new permits for data mining companies, effectively halting the launch of any new crypto mining operations.
Interestingly, Ethiopia had previously emerged as a hotspot for bitcoin miners, thanks to its low-cost hydropower sourced from the recently completed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The government initially saw this as a way to monetize excess power, but rising energy demands at home have forced a shift in priorities.
