Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, the President of INTERPOL, praised Nigeria and other West African countries for their significant role in recovering more than €2 million associated with various global organized crime syndicates.
Al-Raisi made this announcement during the 4th edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers held in Owerri, Imo state on Monday.
This operation, known as “Operation Jackal,” occurred between May 15 and 29, 2023. It involved the collaboration of law enforcement agencies, financial crime units, and cybercrime agencies in 21 countries worldwide to target Black Axe and similar West African organized crime groups.
“Operation Jackal which took place in May of this year tackled West African based organsised crime groups like Black Axe to recover over 2 million Euros,” he said.
Additionally, more than 200 bank accounts connected to proceeds from online financial crime were frozen, and key figures were arrested. These crime networks are considered a significant global security threat.
Al-Raisi emphasized that Nigeria’s strategic location has made it an attractive destination for criminal syndicates seeking to expand their operations.
“Nigeria’s geostrategic location has attracted organised criminal groups who often snuggle illicit goods, who often use Nigeria as a stepping stone to reach other continents.”
Furthermore, Nigeria played a crucial role in dismantling human smuggling rings in West Africa, leading to the rescue of hundreds of migrants and over 1009 arrests made worldwide.
