Nigeria Joins INTERPOL-Led Worldwide Crackdown On Fraud Networks ...

The operation, known as Operation Synergia III, involved law enforcement agencies from 72 countries and territories between July 18, 2025, and January 31, 2026.

An international cybercrime crackdown coordinated by INTERPOL has dismantled no fewer than 45,000 malicious online infrastructures linked to phishing, malware, and ransomware attacks, resulting in dozens of arrests across multiple countries.

The operation, known as Operation Synergia III, involved law enforcement agencies from 72 countries and territories between July 18, 2025, and January 31, 2026.

INTERPOL said the coordinated effort led to the takedown of more than 45,000 malicious IP addresses and servers, while 94 suspects were arrested and 110 others remain under investigation.

According to the international policing body, intelligence gathered during the operation was converted into actionable information that enabled authorities across different countries to carry out raids, disrupt cybercrime infrastructure, and seize digital equipment used by criminal networks.

In total, 212 electronic devices and servers were confiscated during the operation as investigators targeted criminal groups behind phishing campaigns, ransomware attacks, and other online fraud schemes.

Speaking on the outcome of the operation, Neal Jetton, Director of the Cybercrime Directorate at INTERPOL, said the scale and complexity of cybercrime continue to grow globally.

“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,” Jetton said.

“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.”

Although investigations remain ongoing in several countries, preliminary reports revealed the wide range of tactics employed by cybercriminals.

In Macau, authorities uncovered more than 33,000 phishing and fraudulent websites linked to fake casinos and impersonations of critical infrastructure platforms, including banks, government portals, and payment service providers.

INTERPOL said that victims were lured into topping up accounts on the fake websites or unknowingly providing personal and credit card information.

Meanwhile, police in Togo arrested 10 suspects who operated a cyber fraud ring from a residential area.

Investigators said some members specialized in hacking social media accounts, while others carried out social engineering schemes such as romance scams and sextortion.

After taking over victims’ accounts, the suspects allegedly contacted friends and family members while impersonating the account holder, attempting to build fake romantic relationships or solicit emergency financial assistance.

In Bangladesh, law enforcement officers arrested 40 suspects and seized 134 electronic devices connected to multiple cybercrime operations, including loan scams, fake job offers, identity theft, and credit card fraud.

During the operation, INTERPOL worked with cybersecurity firms including Group-IB, Trend Micro, and S2W to track malicious online infrastructure and identify servers used to facilitate cyber attacks.

Participating countries included several African nations, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, alongside partners from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas.

INTERPOL said that cybercrime operations it coordinated have increasingly relied on cross-border intelligence sharing and collaboration with private cybersecurity firms as criminal groups continue to operate across multiple jurisdictions.