by MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – INTERPOL has arrested several individuals during an operation targeting cybercrime in North Africa.
The arrests were made in Algeria and Morocco under Operation Ramz, which also covers the Middle East.
Kaspersky contributed its industry-recognised threat intelligence data.
In Algeria, a website offering phishing-as-a-service was identified and dismantled as part of the operation. After locating the suspicious server, authorities successfully seized a server, a computer, a mobile phone and hard drives containing phishing software and scripts. One suspect was taken into custody.
In Morocco, authorities seized computers, smartphones and external hard drives containing banking data and software used for phishing operations.
Three individuals are undergoing judicial procedures, while others remain under investigation.
In total, the law enforcement operation, which brought together 13 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, resulted in the arrest of 201 individuals and the identification of a further 382 suspects linked to cybercrime.
Running from October 2025 to February 2026, the operation focused on neutralising phishing and malware threats, along with cyber scams that left nearly 4 000 individuals as victims.
During the effort, nearly 8 000 pieces of crucial data and intelligence were shared among participating countries to initiate and support investigations.
Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime, said: “In a world where cybercriminals exploit the digital landscape without borders, Operation Ramz demonstrates the effectiveness of global collaboration.”
INTERPOL has expressed its dedication to working with member countries and the private sector to tackle cybercrime.
Yuliya Shlychkova, Vice President of Global Public Affairs at Kaspersky, said Operation Ramz showed how the synergy between law enforcement agencies and private-sector experts could dismantle sophisticated cybercrime networks at scale.
“By delivering timely, high-quality threat intelligence, we empower investigators to act swiftly, safeguard users, and ultimately make the digital ecosystem safer for everyone,” Shlychkova said.
– CAJ News