Black Axe cybercrime operation disrupted with members’ arrest

Nigerian cybercrime syndicate Black Axe has been disrupted by the Interpol following the arrest of more than 70 suspected members, two of which are allegedly involved in $1.8 million in financial fraud, as part of an international law enforcement operation last month, reports BleepingComputer. "Black Axe and similar groups are responsible for the majority of the world's cyber-enabled financial fraud as well as many other serious crimes, according to evidence analyzed by Interpol's Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) and national law enforcement," said Interpol in a statement. Such an operation has been touted by the INTERPOL to involve the use of its new anti-money laundering rapid response protocol mechanism. Evidence seized as part of the operation could enable the freezing of 1.2M in suspects' assets, 49 targeted property searches, and 75 more arrests. The Interpol's arrests of Black Axe members come after its crackdown of a sextortion ring in Singapore and Hong Kong last month, as well as the seizure of $50 million and arrests of thousands involved in business email compromise scams in June.