Authorities in Madagascar have recently conducted raids that led to the dismantling of 13 cyber scam centers. These centers were linked to a criminal group that previously operated in Cambodia and targeted African nationals in an apparent human trafficking scheme. The operation, which was carried out in conjunction with American authorities, resulted in the seizure of $52 million in cryptocurrencies and 3,200 electronic devices.
The majority of the cyber scam centers were operated by Chinese nationals, with 148 individuals extradited to China, according to the Malagasy justice system. The scams primarily involved romance scams, cryptocurrency schemes, and Ponzi pyramids. The Malagasy authorities, along with the US Department of Justice (DoJ), have been investigating the cybercrime ring.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) had previously warned about the expansion of these networks, particularly in Southern Africa. The Malagasy police have reported that several African nationals, including Rwandans, Zimbabweans, Ugandans, and Kenyans, were lured to Madagascar through social media with promises of employment. Upon arrival, their passports were confiscated, and they were forced into scamming activities.
A Malaysian national, Chui Kok Wa, is suspected of directing one of the cyber scam centers, which was set up in a villa in the upscale neighborhood of Ivato near Antananarivo. The FBI has requested his extradition, according to a DoJ communiqué. Investigations suggest that Chui Kok Wa arrived in Madagascar in 2024, having previously operated in Cambodia.
The DoJ believes that the criminal organization, which has ties to Malaysia and China, likely relocated its operations from Cambodia to Madagascar following law enforcement actions in the former country. The coordinator of the Malagasy Ministry of Communication's cybercrime unit, Tsitohaina Ralihivao, links the arrival of these networks to clashes between Cambodia and Thailand in July 2025.
The cybercrime units had initially occupied discreet villas, but their growth was marked by the renting of entire hotels, such as the Live Hotel in Antananarivo. The alleged leader of one of the centers, a Chinese national named Huang Jidi or Wang Jidi, was extradited by Beijing. However, as with all identified Chinese leaders, he could not be interrogated by the FBI.
Eleven Chinese nationals arrested in connection with the cyber scams were mysteriously released from prison, sparking a scandal that implicated the Malagasy Minister of Justice, Fanirisoa Ernaivo. One of the accused claimed that she had received instructions to release them, which she denies. Meanwhile, African nationals remain incarcerated, with initial investigation elements suggesting they may have been victims of human trafficking.
Key points
- The operation resulted in the seizure of $52 million in cryptocurrencies and 3,200 electronic devices.
- 148 Chinese individuals were extradited to China in connection with the cyber scams.
- The cybercrime ring targeted primarily English-speaking countries, including the US, Canada, and Pakistan.
