- Interpol’s Operation First Light 2026 spanned 97 countries, leading to 5,811 arrests, $239M seized, and 31,014 bank accounts blocked
- Authorities analyzed 152,808 cases, identified 15,606 suspects, and uncovered scams ranging from BEC to money laundering, with victims exceeding 142,000 globally
- Notable busts included a fake Brazilian police station in Eswatini, crypto laundering in Thailand, and scam centers in Palau, highlighting the scale and diversity of the crackdown
Interpol and various national law enforcement agencies arrested more than 5,800 people and seized hundreds of millions of dollars in one of the largest crackdowns on cybercrime to date.
In an announcement, Interpol said that it kicked off Operation First Light 2026 on January 15 and concluded it on April 30, 2026. Following an “initial period” of gathering intelligence and exchanging it among partners, police forces in 97 countries and territories started raiding premises, seizing digital equipment and cash, and arresting suspects.
In total, 5,811 individuals were arrested, and $239 million in illicit assets intercepted. During Operation First Light 2026, various police forces analyzed 152,808 cases, had 31,014 bank accounts blocked, and 99 Notices and Diffusions issued.
A replica of a police station
Besides the arrests, the law enforcement firms also identified 15,606 suspects, which could lead to even more arrests in the coming months.
Interpol did not dismantle a single global operation here. Cases varied from money laundering, to scams and identity theft, to business email compromise, and more.
In one, particularly brazen campaign, police in Eswatini seized a “realistic replica of a Brazilian police station, complete with fake uniforms, signage and equipment”.
“Posing as Brazil’s Federal Police via video call, the scammers deceived their targets into believing they were victims of a crime, tricking them into transferring funds for “safekeeping,” which were then stolen,” Interpol explained. In this instance, police arrested 82 people and seized 240 electronic devices.
Two people were arrested in Thailand, including a 20-year-old man who allegedly processed more than $122.5 million in various cryptocurrencies in 10 months. Authorities in Palau, on the other hand, deported 22 individuals for their role in two connected scam centers being conducted from hotels.
Interpol said that during the operation it identified more than 142,000 victims globally.
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