Nigeria has played a key role in a sweeping global anti-fraud operation led by INTERPOL, contributing to the arrest of 5,811 suspects and the recovery of $293 million in illicit assets linked to cyber-enabled financial crimes and money laundering. The coordinated effort, known as Operation First Light 2026, involved 97 countries and targeted sophisticated social engineering scams that continue to victimise people across borders.
Running from January 15 to April 30, the operation focused on prevalent threats including business email compromise, romance scams, investment fraud, impersonation schemes, and extortion. INTERPOL reported identifying over 142,000 victims globally, analysing more than 152,000 fraud cases, blocking thousands of bank accounts, and issuing multiple international notices to enhance cross-border cooperation.
INTERPOL’s Director of the Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, Tomonobu Kaya, highlighted the persistent danger posed by these criminal networks. He stressed that syndicates exploit human psychology and trust, warning that no single nation can combat the threat alone. The success of the joint operation demonstrates the power of international collaboration in disrupting fraud ecosystems.
Notable breakthroughs included authorities in Eswatini dismantling a network involved in online gambling, money laundering, and impersonation scams, while Thai police uncovered a major cryptocurrency laundering ring tied to romance fraud. In other actions, Singapore and Oman prevented a $6.6 million fraudulent transfer, and Macao police saved a victim from losing nearly $372,000 through timely intervention.
The results of Operation First Light 2026 underscore Nigeria’s growing commitment to fighting transnational cybercrime alongside global partners. As authorities continue to build on these gains, experts hope the operation will deter future scams and encourage stronger public awareness to protect potential victims from sophisticated financial fraud tactics.