Global Cybercrime Sting: INTERPOL Takes Down 45,000 Networks, Nabs 94 Suspects

An extensive global cybercrime operation coordinated by INTERPOL has resulted in the dismantling of more than 45,000 malicious internet addresses and servers, the organisation announced. This significant effort focused on tackling prevalent threats such as phishing, malware, and ransomware.

Law enforcement agencies from 72 nations and territories participated in Operation Synergia III, which ran from July 18, 2025, to January 31, 2026. The operation culminated in the apprehension of 94 individuals, with investigations continuing into another 110 suspects.

INTERPOL stated that it played a crucial role in converting raw data into actionable intelligence, fostering cooperation between countries, and providing essential operational support to member states.

The preliminary findings from these investigations prompted a series of coordinated actions by national authorities, including raids on critical locations and the disruption of illicit cyber activities. A total of 212 electronic devices and servers were confiscated as part of the operation.

Participating countries and territories in this global initiative included Nigeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, France, Gambia, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Macao (China), Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Niger, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Togo, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Neal Jetton, INTERPOL's Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, commented on the operation's success, stating, "Cybercrime in 2026 is more sophisticated and destructive than ever before, but Operation Synergia III stands as a powerful testament to what global cooperation can achieve."

He added, "INTERPOL remains at the forefront of this fight, uniting law enforcement agencies and private sector experts to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt emerging threats and protect victims around the world."

While investigations are ongoing in several participating nations, initial reports highlight the diverse range of criminal tactics employed, such as fraudulent websites, romance scams, and credit card fraud.

For example, authorities in Macau, China, identified over 33,000 phishing and fraudulent websites, many impersonating official bank, government, and payment service sites, often associated with fake casinos and critical infrastructure.

INTERPOL explained that victims were defrauded by depositing funds into these fake sites or by having their personal and credit card information stolen.

In Togo, law enforcement arrested 10 suspects involved in a fraud ring operating from a residential location. Some members specialized in technical crimes like hacking social media accounts, while others engaged in social engineering schemes, including romance scams and sextortion.

The criminals would often gain access to an account, then contact the victim's network, pretending to be the account holder to build fake romantic relationships or deceive friends and family into making money transfers.

In Bangladesh, police apprehended 40 suspects and seized 134 electronic devices linked to a wide array of cybercrime activities, including loan and job scams, identity theft, and credit card fraud.

During Operation Synergia III, INTERPOL collaborated closely with its partners, Group-IB, Trend Micro, and S2W, to track illegal online activities and pinpoint malicious servers.