In a large-scale international operation against cybercrime, 94 people were arrested and more than 45,000 malicious servers and IP addresses were taken down. The operation, named Synergia III, was coordinated by INTERPOL with support from cybersecurity company Group-IB.
The operation took place between July 2025 and January 2026 and spanned 72 countries and territories. In addition to the arrests, another 110 individuals are being investigated. The authorities seized 212 electronic devices and servers linked to cybercriminal activities such as phishing, ransomware, and malware distribution.
As part of the operation, Group-IB provided threat intelligence on phishing infrastructure and malicious servers used by cybercriminal networks. Leveraging its adversary-centric threat intelligence, the company shared information on phishing domains, hosting infrastructure supporting those campaigns, and servers distributing malware such as infostealers, helping investigators identify and disrupt cybercriminal infrastructure across multiple jurisdictions.
“Cybercriminal groups rely on complex infrastructure to scale phishing and malware operations globally,” said CEO of Group-IB. “Operation Synergia III demonstrates how close cooperation between law enforcement agencies and private-sector partners can significantly disrupt these networks.”
From Fake Casinos to Sextortion
During the operation, authorities uncovered several large-scale criminal schemes across multiple regions. Macau (China): Investigators identified more than 33,000 phishing and fraudulent websites impersonating casinos, banks, and government services to steal personal data and payment information.
Togo: Police dismantled a fraud ring involved in social media account hacking, romance scams, and sextortion, where criminals impersonated victims online to manipulate their contacts into transferring money.
Bangladesh: Authorities arrested 40 suspects connected to a wide range of cybercrime schemes, including loan scams, job fraud, identity theft, and credit card fraud, seizing more than 130 electronic devices used in the operations.
More Destructive Than Ever
“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,” Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate. “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.”
The successful conclusion of Synergia III marks a major victory in the fight against digital crime, but experts warn that the battle continues. Group-IB has said that it will continue its partnerships with international law enforcement organizations including INTERPOL, Europol, and AFRIPOL, providing threat intelligence and investigative support to global cybercrime investigations.
