$293 million seized and 5,811 arrests made as part of vast anti-scam and fraud action led by Interpol and law enforcement in 97 countries

Interpol’s Operation First Light 2026 took place in 97 countries, resulting in 5,811 arrests, $239 million 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 more than 142,000 victims worldwide.
Notable arrests include a fake Brazilian police station in Eswatini, cryptocurrency laundering in Thailand and scam hubs in Palau, highlighting the scale and diversity of the crackdown.

Interpol and various national law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 5,800 people and seized hundreds of millions of dollars in one of the largest crackdowns on cybercrime to date.

In a statement, Interpol said it launched Operation First Light 2026 on January 15 and concluded it on April 30, 2026. After an “initial period” of intelligence gathering and exchange between partners, police forces from 97 countries and territories began searching premises, seizing digital material and cash, and arresting suspects.

A total of 5,811 people were arrested and $239 million in illicit assets were intercepted. During Operation First Light 2026, various police forces analyzed 152,808 cases, blocked 31,014 bank accounts and issued 99 notices and broadcasts.

A replica of a police station

In addition to the arrests, law enforcement also identified 15,606 suspects, which could lead to even more arrests in the coming months.

Interpol has not dismantled a single global operation here. The cases ranged from money laundering, scams and identity theft, to business email compromise, and more.

In one particularly brazen campaign, Eswatini police seized a “realistic replica of a Brazilian police station, complete with fake uniforms, signs and equipment.”

“Personating the Brazilian Federal Police via video call, the scammers tricked their targets into believing they were victims of a crime, tricking them into transferring funds for ‘keeping safe’, which were then stolen,” Interpol explained. In this case, police arrested 82 people and seized 240 electronic devices.

Two people have been arrested in Thailand, including a 20-year-old man who allegedly handled more than $122.5 million in various cryptocurrencies in 10 months. Authorities in Palau, by contrast, deported 22 people for their roles in two connected scam centers run from hotels.

Interpol said that during the operation it identified more than 142,000 victims worldwide.