NAIROBI, Kenya — An international law enforcement operation coordinated by INTERPOL has led to the arrest of 94 suspects and the dismantling of more than 45,000 malicious internet addresses linked to global cybercrime operations.
The crackdown, dubbed Operation Synergia III, ran from July 18, 2025, to January 31, 2026, bringing together law enforcement agencies from 72 countries and territories, including Kenya.
Authorities said the operation targeted the digital infrastructure used by cybercriminal networks to conduct phishing attacks, malware distribution and ransomware campaigns affecting victims worldwide.
Investigators dismantled more than 45,000 malicious IP addresses and servers used to launch cyberattacks or host fraudulent websites.
In addition to the arrests, authorities seized 212 electronic devices and servers, while 110 additional suspects remain under investigation, according to INTERPOL.
Growing threat of global cybercrime
Cybersecurity experts say cybercrime networks increasingly operate across borders, exploiting compromised servers, stolen credentials and sophisticated social engineering tactics to defraud individuals and organisations.
“Cybercrime in 2026 is more sophisticated and destructive than ever before,” said Neal Jetton, Director of the Cybercrime Directorate at INTERPOL.
“But Operation Synergia III stands as a powerful testament to what global cooperation can achieve.”
Jetton added that the coordinated effort brought together law enforcement agencies and private cybersecurity firms to dismantle criminal infrastructure and disrupt emerging threats.
Fraud schemes spanning multiple continents
Investigations across participating countries uncovered a wide range of cyber fraud schemes.
In Macao, authorities identified more than 33,000 phishing and fraudulent websites posing as casinos, banks, government portals and payment platforms.
Victims were tricked into depositing money or providing sensitive data such as passwords, credit card details and personal identification information.
In Togo, police arrested 10 suspects accused of running an online fraud network combining hacking techniques with social engineering scams.
Investigators said the suspects hacked social media accounts and impersonated victims, launching romance scams and sextortion schemes to persuade friends and relatives to send money.
Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, authorities detained 40 suspects linked to cybercrime operations involving job scams, fake loan offers, identity theft and credit card fraud.
Police in the country seized 134 electronic devices believed to have been used in the criminal activities.
Global collaboration key to disrupting networks
During the operation, INTERPOL analysts transformed intelligence gathered from partner organisations into actionable leads, enabling coordinated investigations across borders.
National authorities carried out targeted raids, server shutdowns and digital forensic operations to dismantle cybercriminal infrastructure.
Also Read: INTERPOL arrests 27 Kenyans in major Africa cybercrime crackdown
The operation also involved collaboration with major cybersecurity firms including Group‑IB, Trend Micro and S2W, which assisted in identifying malicious servers and tracking criminal online activity.
Participating countries included the United Kingdom, India, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Cybercrime rising worldwide
Law enforcement agencies say cybercrime has grown rapidly in recent years as criminal groups increasingly exploit digital platforms, financial networks and remote communication tools.
Global estimates from cybersecurity analysts suggest that cybercrime costs the world economy trillions of dollars annually, making it one of the fastest-growing forms of transnational crime.
INTERPOL says operations like Operation Synergia are part of a broader effort to strengthen international policing cooperation, intelligence sharing and digital forensics capabilities to combat emerging cyber threats.
