More than 30 people were arrested in Portugal, 1.4 million euros seized and 50 bank accounts were frozen in an international operation coordinated by Interpol in which the Judicial Police (PJ) participated, it was announced today.
In a statement, the PJ explains that this international operation to combat organized crime in West Africa, called ‘JACKAL’, targeted the Black Axe criminal organization, mafia-style and known for financial fraud practiced by computer means and money laundering.
The PJ participated in this operation, through the National Unit for Combating Cybercrime and Technological Crime – UNC3T, between May 15 and 29 of this year.
In Portugal, the operation led to the arrest of 31 people (foreigners and nationals), the seizure of around €1.4 million, the freezing of 50 bank accounts, the identification of 48 suspects and the opening of 28 investigations.
Globally, the action of the various police forces made it possible to seize about 2.15 million euros, arrest 103 citizens, identify 1,110 suspects and block 208 bank accounts.
This international operation involved 21 countries: in addition to Portugal, it involved Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Ivory Coast, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States of America.