INTERPOL supported the operation by providing real-time access to its databases, facilitating the identification of criminals and their activities.

Portuguese criminal police dismantled a Nigerian network that recruited money mules and laundered monies from online financial crime victims around Europe.

The International Police (INTERPOL) reported Tuesday that more than 25 syndicate members were identified during the investigation in Portugal.

Data from seized laptops and phones revealed huge transfers to Nigerian bank accounts, cryptocurrency activities, and sophisticated money laundering schemes.

INTERPOL headquarters cooperated in a global law enforcement operation aimed at West African organised crime groups, notably Black Axe.

The operation resulted in hundreds of arrests, the recovery of $3 million in assets, and the collapse of various international criminal networks.

Operation Jackal III brought together police forces, financial intelligence units, asset recovery offices, and private sector partners from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cote D'Ivoire, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Following a five-year investigation, Argentina's Operation Jackal III dismantled a Nigerian-led international criminal network.

According to INTERPOL, federal police confiscated $1.2 million in ‘supernotes', or high-quality counterfeit banknotes, arrested 72 people, and froze around 100 bank accounts.

According to global police, the network employed money mules to open bank accounts around the world and is now being investigated in over 40 countries for money laundering-related operations.

The suspects include citizens from Argentina, Colombia, Nigeria and Venezuela.

More than 160 fraud victims suffered significant financial losses, with some forced to sell their homes or take out large loans as a result.

Diego Verdun, head of Argentina’s National Central Bureau, said: “Operation Jackal is a crucial step forward in combating West African online financial fraud and clearly demonstrates that cybercriminals cannot escape the watchful eye of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries – especially in Argentina.

“By following illegal money trails worldwide, INTERPOL and the global police community ensure that no matter where these criminals try to hide, they will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.”

In a separate case in Switzerland, authorities cracked down on West African organized criminal syndicates operating across the country, seizing cocaine, around Euro 45,000 in cash, and arresting many people.