TL;DR
- INTERPOL coordinated an operation across 97 countries that resulted in 5,811 arrests and the interception of approximately $293 million in illicit assets.
- In Thailand, a crypto laundering network was dismantled after processing more than $122.5 million through a single wallet in just 10 months.
- The operation identified more than 142,000 victims, froze 31,014 bank accounts, and resolved 23,715 cases worldwide.
The Operation First Light, coordinated by INTERPOL with the participation of 97 countries and territories, concluded with 5,811 arrests and the interception of $293 million in illicit assets between January 15 and April 30, 2026. The initiative aimed to dismantle social engineering networks —including investment fraud, sexual extortion, identity impersonation, and romance scams— as well as the associated money laundering structures.
During the operation period, more than 142,000 victims were identified globally. Authorities froze 31,014 bank accounts, resolved 23,715 cases, identified 15,606 suspects, and issued 99 notices and diffusions. INTERPOL’s I-GRIP (Global Rapid Intervention of Payments) mechanism, which enables the swift blocking of illicit transfers of fiat and virtual assets, was key to the operation.
International Collaboration Is Essential
“Social engineering scams continue to be a considerable threat to our society. Criminal syndicates exploit human psychology to manipulate their victims, and no nation can remain safe unless all countries are equipped and committed to fighting them together,” stated Tomonobu Kaya, director of INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre.
🚨 5,800+ arrests, USD 293 million intercepted across 97 countries
The results of Operation First Light 2026 highlight the global scale of social engineering fraud and associated money laundering.
Coordinated by INTERPOL, the operation targeted the criminal networks behind… pic.twitter.com/ArRit7NmMp
— INTERPOL (@INTERPOL_HQ) July 9, 2026
INTERPOL Exposed a Crypto Laundering Network in Thailand
In Thailand, INTERPOL arrested two suspects after uncovering a scheme that funneled funds obtained through romance scams across multiple cryptocurrencies. The mechanism used involved cross-chain token swaps to obscure the traceability of financial movements. Authorities determined that the digital wallet of one of the suspects, aged 20, processed more than $122.5 million in just 10 months.
In addition, Singapore and Oman blocked a transfer of $6.6 million linked to a business email compromise fraud. In Macau, authorities prevented a victim from sending nearly $372,000 to scammers posing as public officials. In Eswatini, police dismantled a network operating a fake Brazilian police station to convince victims to transfer funds into custody, which were then stolen. In Palau, 22 individuals were deported for running scam centers out of hotels, using cryptocurrencies and illegal gambling sites to target victims abroad.
