International Operation Against Cybercrime Results in Over 1,400 Arrests

Law enforcement agencies across 21 countries arrested 1,462 suspects and recovered more than $105 million in illicit funds during a major international operation targeting online financial crimes. Interpol announced the results of the intervention, which took place between June and August, highlighting a coordinated global response to digital extortion, ransomware, and online scams.

The operation identified nearly 66,000 victims worldwide and linked the investigated criminal activities to financial losses exceeding $385 million. Authorities successfully dismantled over 10,900 malicious digital networks and seized infrastructure used to facilitate international cyberfraud.

In Uganda, authorities dismantled two transnational fraud networks and arrested 365 foreign nationals. Investigators discovered call centers utilizing scripts, fake trading platforms, and fraudulent websites to target elderly victims and retirees across Asia with pension and investment schemes.

Nigerian law enforcement apprehended a suspect linked to a large-scale phishing operation that compiled approximately 2.1 million email addresses. During this investigation, authorities also recovered a luxury vehicle believed to have been purchased using proceeds from the cybercriminal activity, alongside tracing suspicious cryptocurrency transactions.

Additional enforcement actions spanned multiple nations, including Angola, where officials dismantled illegal cryptocurrency mining operations and seized thousands of equipment units. In Gabon, operations targeted a social media network engaged in vehicle import scams, while authorities in the Republic of Congo arrested 30 suspects tied to cybercrime.

Interpol noted that the operation relied on intelligence sharing concerning suspicious domain names, IP addresses, and compromised infrastructure. Specialized cybersecurity firms provided technical expertise to help identify the criminal networks operating across international borders.