Interpol Multinational Operation Recovers $439 Million in Global Crypto Cybercrime Crackdown

Interpol's Operation HAECHI VI, a coordinated multinational crackdown involving 40 countries, successfully recovered $439 million in illicit assets, including $342 million in traditional currencies and $97 million in physical and virtual assets such as cryptocurrency. Running from April to August 2025 and financially supported by South Korea, the operation targeted seven types of cyber-enabled crimes: voice phishing, romance scams, online sextortion, investment fraud, money laundering linked to illegal online gambling, business email compromise, and e-commerce fraud. Authorities blocked over 68,000 bank accounts and froze nearly 400 cryptocurrency wallets, recovering $16 million directly from these digital assets. Significant arrests included 45 suspects in Portugal connected to social security fraud, and the Royal Thai Police seized $6.6 million in a major business email compromise case involving transnational organized crime. The operation demonstrates the growing effectiveness of international law enforcement cooperation and advanced forensic techniques in disrupting global cybercriminal networks and recovering stolen funds, signaling a strong deterrent against online fraud and money laundering. Interpol encourages more countries to join such collaborative efforts to protect financial systems and vulnerable communities worldwide.