INTERPOL's Operation First Light 2026, which ran from January to April 2026, successfully dismantled a vast network of scammers across 97 countries.The operation led to the arrest of 5,811 suspects, the identification of 15,606 others, and the seizure of KSh 37.9 billion (USD 293 million) in illicit assets.Authorities also blocked 31,014 bank accounts and solved 23,715 cases.

Notable cases included a criminal network in Eswatini that operated a fake Brazilian police station, tricking victims into transferring funds, and a 20-year-old suspect in Thailand who laundered KSh 15.9 billion through a digital wallet.Singapore and Oman used INTERPOL's I-GRIP tool to block a KSh 853.5 million transfer linked to a business email scam.In Macao, police intervened to prevent a KSh 48.1 million transfer to fraudsters posing as officials.The operation highlighted the scale of social engineering fraud, including romance scams, investment fraud, and impersonation schemes.Palau deported 22 scammers involved in hotel-based scams using cryptocurrency.The effort underscores the global threat of digital fraud and the need for international cooperation.