A global cyber fraud operation coordinated by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has resulted in the arrest of 5,811 suspects and the interception of 293 million US dollars in illicit assets across 97 countries and territories, including Nigeria.
The four-month operation, codenamed “Operation First Light 2026,” targeted business email compromise, romance scams, investment fraud, impersonation schemes, sextortion and related money laundering.
Coordinated by INTERPOL with support from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Police (ASEANAPOL), the Gulf Cooperation Council Police (GCCPOL) and Europol, the operation brought together law enforcement agencies in a coordinated crackdown against transnational cybercrime.
During the operation, investigators raided identified criminal locations, froze more than 31,000 bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, issued 99 INTERPOL Notices and Diffusions, and activated INTERPOL’s Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) mechanism to swiftly block illicit financial transfers before funds could be moved across borders.
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Authorities also identified 15,606 suspects, more than 142,000 victims, and solved 23,715 fraud and scam cases.
Field operations were conducted in several countries, including Brazil, Eswatini, Macao, Oman, Palau, Singapore, and Thailand.
In Eswatini, police dismantled a criminal network linked to illegal online gambling, money laundering, and sophisticated impersonation scams that used a replica Brazilian police station to deceive victims.
The operation received funding from China’s Ministry of Public Security, highlighting China’s support for international law enforcement efforts against cyber-enabled financial crime.
INTERPOL said Operation First Light 2026 demonstrates the importance of sustained international cooperation as cybercriminal networks become increasingly sophisticated, exploit digital technologies, and operate across multiple jurisdictions.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
