Interpol operation nets 5,811 arrests, $293 million seized

A major international law enforcement operation targeting online fraud and money laundering has resulted in thousands of arrests and the seizure of hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit assets. The operation, coordinated by Interpol and involving agencies from 97 countries and territories, concluded its operational phase on April 30, 2026, with the results announced on July 9.

Named Operation First Light 2026, the initiative focused on combating social engineering scams and associated money laundering. These crimes included romance scams, business email compromise schemes, sextortion, impersonation, and investment fraud. During the operation, which ran from January 15 to April 30, authorities arrested 5,811 individuals and intercepted $293 million in illicit assets. Investigators identified over 142,000 victims globally, blocked or froze 31,014 bank accounts, and solved 23,715 cases out of more than 152,000 analyzed.

A key tool in the effort was Interpol's Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (IGRIP) mechanism, which enabled the rapid freezing of suspicious transactions involving both traditional currency and virtual assets. Authorities also issued 99 Interpol notices and...