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A four-month international enforcement campaign has led to more than 5,800 arrests and the freezing or interception of roughly $293 million linked to online fraud, illegal gambling, and money laundering, offering a rare look at the scale and reach of cyber-enabled financial crime.
The operation, coordinated by Interpol between January 15 and April 30, involved police and financial investigators from 97 countries and territories. Rather than focusing on a single type of fraud, authorities pursued the infrastructure supporting a wide range of criminal activity, including illegal online gambling, investment scams, romance fraud, business email compromise, impersonation schemes, and the laundering networks used to move stolen money.
By the time the operation concluded, investigators had reviewed more than 152,000 cases. Over 23,700 investigations were solved, more than 15,600 suspects were identified, and authorities recorded over 142,000 victims. Investigators also blocked 31,014 bank accounts while issuing 99 Interpol Notices and Diffusions to support international investigations.
Gambling Operations Among Major Targets
Several countries uncovered sophisticated criminal operations that blended illegal gambling with other forms of financial crime.
In Eswatini, police dismantled a network tied to unlawful online gambling, money laundering, and impersonation fraud. The investigation resulted in 82 arrests and the seizure of hundreds of electronic devices. Officers also uncovered a fake Brazilian police station that investigators believe was used to convince victims they were dealing with legitimate law enforcement.
Thailand exposed another side of the criminal economy. Investigators traced a cryptocurrency laundering operation connected to romance scams after discovering that one suspect’s digital wallet had processed more than $122.5 million within ten months.
Cross-border cooperation also prevented substantial financial losses elsewhere. Authorities in Singapore and Oman worked together to stop a fraudulent transfer worth $6.6 million linked to a business email compromise scheme. In Macao, China, police intervened before a victim transferred almost $372,000 after detecting an active impersonation scam during a public awareness initiative.
Earlier African Crackdown Revealed Similar Patterns
The latest campaign follows Operation Red Card, another Interpol-led initiative carried out between late 2024 and early 2025 across seven African countries.
That operation produced 306 arrests and dismantled networks involved in online casino scams, fake investment platforms, and mobile fraud. More than 1,800 electronic devices were seized, while investigators identified over 5,000 victims.
Nigeria accounted for the largest number of arrests, with 130 suspects taken into custody, including 113 foreign nationals. Investigators linked the group to online casino fraud and fraudulent investment schemes that allegedly converted criminal proceeds into cryptocurrency. Authorities also examined whether some individuals operating from scam centers had been trafficked or forced into the activity.
Elsewhere, Rwanda arrested 45 suspects connected to social engineering scams involving fake lottery prizes, telecom impersonation, and emergency payment requests, recovering more than $100,000. Police in South Africa dismantled a SIM box fraud network, while Zambian authorities arrested 14 suspects over malicious messaging-link scams.
Interpol believes the investigations reflect how organized crime increasingly relies on digital platforms, cryptocurrencies, and international money laundering channels to move funds quickly across borders. Officials involved in the operation stressed that intelligence sharing between countries remains one of the most effective ways to identify suspects, freeze illicit assets, disrupt criminal networks, and prevent further financial losses before victims transfer their money.
Source: casino.com
