INTERPOL arrests 5,811 people in global fraud operation

INTERPOL concludes a large-scale international fraud operation with impressive results: 5,811 arrests, $293 million in intercepted assets, and a 20-year-old suspect whose crypto wallet processed a staggering $122.5 million in ten months. The operation, named First Light 2026, spans 97 countries and territories.

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Thai authorities uncover money-laundering network via crypto

In Thailand, authorities have rolled up an extensive money-laundering network that originates from so-called romance scams. In this type of fraud, criminals build a trust-based relationship with victims through dating apps or social media, only to swindle them out of money later. The proceeds from these activities end up in a setup where the money is converted into multiple cryptocurrencies.

To conceal the financial trail, the perpetrators use cross-chain token swaps: automatically exchanging one cryptocurrency for another across different blockchains. This method makes it considerably harder for law enforcement to trace fund flows. Thai police made two arrests and discovered that the digital wallet of one of the suspects, a 20-year-old, processed more than $122.5 million in just ten months.

Global crackdown on scam centres and illegal gambling

The operation is not limited to Thailand. In Palau, the government deported 22 individuals accused of running scam centres. These centres combine cryptocurrency-related fraud with illegal gambling websites, a combination increasingly seen in criminal networks across Southeast Asia.

The overall picture of First Light 2026 shows just how widespread the fraud problem is globally. With nearly 6,000 arrests in 97 countries and a quarter of a billion dollars in intercepted assets, INTERPOL is taking a decisive step in tackling organised fraud in which crypto plays a central role as a means to launder money and erase traces.