Interpol seized $293 million in illegal assets and detained 5,811 suspects in global crypto crime operation

Under the coordination of Interpol, Operation First Light 2026 was carried out across 97 countries and territories targeting large-scale fraud and the laundering of criminal proceeds. According to information released by the agency, the four-month effort resulted in the detention of 5,811 individuals, the seizure of $293 million in illicit assets, and the identification of more than 142,000 victims worldwide.

Thai crypto case sees $122.5 million in digital asset flows

One of the most notable cases involved the Thai police detaining two suspects. Interpol reported that a 20-year-old individual managed a cryptocurrency wallet through which over $122.5 million in assets passed in just ten months. Authorities stated that these funds were linked to the laundering of proceeds gained from victims deceived via online romance scams.

Investigations found that the suspects converted the money into various crypto assets and utilized cross-chain token swaps to obscure the trail, making it harder to trace which address or network the funds were ultimately sent to.

Mini glossary: A cross-chain swap is the process of moving or converting a digital asset between different blockchain networks. While this technology serves legitimate purposes, its ability to facilitate rapid and multi-layered transfers can make tracking illicit funds a challenge for investigators.

Over 31,000 accounts blocked in four months

The operation ran from mid-January through the end of April. During this period, Interpol blocked 31,014 bank accounts, examined over 152,000 individual cases, and employed a payment stop tool dubbed I-GRIP to track both traditional money transfers and virtual asset flows. This system was designed to quickly halt and support investigations into the movement of criminal proceeds across member countries.

Cross-border crackdown intensifies on crypto fraud

Interpol views crypto-related scams as a central pillar within vast transnational crime networks. The organization’s General Assembly in Marrakech approved a resolution designating these structures as a cross-border threat. According to Interpol, such networks blend human trafficking, online deception tactics, and digital asset transfers to further their schemes.

United Nations investigators estimate that from 2020 to 2024, these operations generated tens of billions of dollars. Many of these networks rely on workers kept in exploitative conditions at fortified facilities across Southeast Asia. Thailand has become a frontline state for such probes due to its proximity to the Myanmar and Cambodia borders.

Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis found that illicit funds pouring into crypto fraud accelerated in 2025, with the average scam payment increasing to $2,764. The company highlighted that a surge in AI-powered schemes, phishing tools, and layered money laundering networks contributed to this trend.

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