More cybercriminals have been arrested in Kenya in a collaborative operation between local and international law enforcement agencies. From December 8, 2025, to January 30, 2026, Operation Red Card 2.0, carried out under Interpol, led to the arrests of 27 suspects in Kenya.
These individuals are linked to fraud schemes that used messaging apps, social media, and fictitious testimonials to lure victims into making fake investments in reputable global corporations.
“Scammers solicited small initial investments, as low as USD 50 (KES 6,500) ‒ with claims of lucrative returns. “Victims were shown fabricated account statements or dashboards, but withdrawal requests were systematically blocked,” Interpol claimed in a statement.
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Victims discovered they were trapped in a high-yield investment scam once the lucrative returns displayed on their user accounts could not be withdrawn.
Operation Red Card 2.0 successfully dismantled criminal hubs, not just in Kenya, but across 16 African nations. This coordinated sweep resulted in the arrest of 651 suspects linked to various cybercrime syndicates. Authorities recovered more than $4.3 million in stolen funds.
It is yet another operation conducted under the African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) and comes after Operation Serengeti and Operation Sentinel.
According to Interpol’s June 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, two-thirds of surveyed African member countries now categorize cybercrime as a medium-to-high proportion of their total crime cases.
With vital industries like banking and energy facing a wave of advanced digital threats, Interpol is calling for a united global front and pledging hands-on support for those targeted.
Neal Jetton, Interpol’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, said, “Operation Red Card highlights the importance of collaboration when combatting transnational cybercrime. I encourage all victims of cybercrime to reach out to law enforcement for help.”
