Nigeria has joined one of the world’s biggest coordinated crackdowns on cyber-enabled financial crime, as INTERPOL announced the arrest of 5,811 suspects and the recovery of more than $293 million linked to fraud and money laundering activities.
The global operation, known as Operation First Light 2026, brought together law enforcement agencies from 97 countries. Moreover, it exposed the growing reach of international fraud networks that continue to target victims through online scams and digital financial crimes.
The operation has attracted global attention because it uncovered thousands of criminal activities across several continents.
According to INTERPOL, the operation was carried out between January 15 and April 30, focusing on criminals involved in business email compromise, romance scams, investment fraud, impersonation schemes, sextortion, and other forms of online deception.
The Operation First Light 2026 exercise led to the identification of more than 142,000 victims worldwide. Furthermore, investigators analysed 152,808 fraud cases during the operation.
Authorities also blocked 31,014 bank accounts believed to have been used for illegal financial transactions. In addition, 23,715 cases were successfully solved, while 15,606 suspects were identified for further investigation.
To strengthen cross-border cooperation, INTERPOL issued 99 Notices and Diffusions to assist member countries in tracking wanted suspects and sharing intelligence.
Speaking on the outcome of the operation, INTERPOL’s Director of the Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, Tomonobu Kaya, warned that online fraud continues to evolve as criminal groups exploit trust and technology.
“Social engineering scams continue to pose a significant threat to our society. Criminal syndicates exploit human psychology to manipulate their targets, and no nation can stay safe unless all countries are equipped and committed to jointly fighting back,” he said.
Meanwhile, several countries recorded major successes during the operation.
In Eswatini, authorities dismantled a criminal group linked to online gambling, money laundering, and impersonation scams. The operation resulted in the arrest of 82 suspects.
Security officials also recovered 240 electronic devices, different foreign currencies, and a fake Brazilian police station allegedly used to convince victims to transfer money.
In Thailand, investigators uncovered a cryptocurrency money laundering network connected to romance scams.
Police revealed that a 20-year-old suspect processed more than $122.5 million through a digital wallet within just ten months.
Furthermore, Singapore and Oman worked together to prevent the transfer of $6.6 million through INTERPOL’s I-GRIP payment intervention system.
Meanwhile, authorities in Macao stopped an impersonation scam before a victim could lose nearly $372,000, highlighting the growing importance of real-time international cooperation.
The operation also demonstrated how cyber criminals continue to use technology to target individuals, businesses, and financial institutions around the world.
Consequently, law enforcement agencies are increasing intelligence sharing and expanding partnerships to disrupt criminal networks before more victims are affected.
Experts believe online fraud has become one of the fastest-growing forms of organised crime because criminals can operate across different countries with ease.
Therefore, operations such as Operation First Light 2026 are expected to become more frequent as countries strengthen efforts against cybercrime, financial fraud, and money laundering.
Nigeria’s participation in the international operation reflects its continued commitment to working with global security partners in tackling cyber-enabled crimes.
