Operation First Light 2024, led by Interpol and involving police forces from 61 countries, has achieved significant milestones in combating online scams. The operation resulted in the arrest of 3950 suspects and the identification of 14,643 individuals involved in various fraudulent activities such as phishing and investment scams. Authorities seized assets totaling $257 million, including freezing 6745 bank accounts and intercepting $135 million in fiat currency and $2 million in cryptocurrency.
The global crackdown targeted transnational organized crime networks engaged in a wide range of fraudulent schemes, from fake online shopping sites to romance and impersonation scams. Notable successes included apprehensions in Hong Kong, asset seizures in Brazil, and dismantling of sophisticated scam networks in Namibia. In Namibia alone, authorities rescued 88 individuals coerced into scam operations and seized substantial digital equipment.
Interpol’s General Secretariat headquarters played a pivotal role in analyzing seized data and supporting local law enforcement efforts across participating countries. The operation utilized Interpol’s Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) mechanism to track and intercept illicit proceeds, recovering significant sums and assets globally. Dr. Isaac Kehinde Oginni of Interpol highlighted the operation’s broader impact on protecting lives, preventing crimes, and bolstering the global economy against financial fraud.
