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The INTERPOL detains hundreds of offenders via the Operation Cybore MENA initiative, which represents the first major global cybercrime enforcement activity encompassing nine countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
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The authorities confiscated more than $1.7 million in liquid assets, along with hundreds of electronic devices that criminals utilized in the process of perpetrating internet crimes, phishing scams, and compromising business email accounts.
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The operation involved police from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, INTERPOL also provided live intelligence sharing and technical support.
The international organization, INTERPOL, has apprehended 201 suspects during a major cybercrime operation in the Middle East and North Africa. Operation Cybore MENA is the first-ever instance of large-scale law enforcement collaboration in the MENA region, resulting in the seizure of more than $1.7 million in criminal assets.
The coordinated operation focused on shutting down the network of cybercriminals responsible for conducting internet-based scams, as well as the phishing and business email compromise operations. Law enforcement agencies from multiple countries throughout the MENA region participated in the operation with INTERPOL.
The achievements of Operation Cybore MENA highlight how successfully international police cooperation can prevent cybercrime on an international level. As criminals often conduct their crimes across national boundaries, this creates an even greater need for international police cooperation to enforce the law.
Operation Targeted Multiple Cybercrime Categories Across Nine Countries
The operation involved police forces from nine MENA nations working together simultaneously. Participating countries included Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, each country contributing resources and intelligence to the joint effort.
Law enforcement agencies concentrated on a number of major cybercrime categories. Some examples were online financial fraud, social engineering frauds, and phishing attacks that targeted individuals and companies. Also, the authorities’ high-profile focus included networks created for illegal internet gambling and for laundering the proceeds of criminal activity.
The arrests took several weeks and involved law enforcement agencies working together in a consecutive and coordinated manner. Digital evidence spread across multiple jurisdictions and the investigators conducted simultaneous raids after determining where to find each of the suspects. The operation dismantled the criminal infrastructure used to commit these fraudulent acts against individuals in different countries within the region.
INTERPOL assisted all of the participating countries by providing real-time operational intelligence and operational coordination. INTERPOL’s Global Complex for Innovation provided some technical and analytical support to assist the various national law enforcement agencies’ efforts to find and apprehend the suspects responsible for these sizable crimes internationally.
Seizures Included Cash, Electronics, and Cryptocurrency Wallets
Law Enforcement has seized a large volume of assets as a result of the operation. The authorities seized approximately $1.7 million in cash and cryptocurrency as part of the investigations. Also, they confiscated hundreds of electronic equipment items used in connection with cybercrimes.
Computers, servers, and mobile phones have been confiscated as crime evidence. Forensic teams will examine these devices to identify further suspects and help identify additional criminal networks. The information on these fiendish databases may lead to additional criminal arrests in the coming months.
Authorities have also frozen numerous banking accounts belonging to the criminal enterprises. Financial intelligence has already proven to be a vital source in ascertaining the source of the criminal proceeds. Investigators traced money transactions through the traditional banking systems and cryptocurrency exchanges to obtain coverage on the criminals.
The asset seizure provides a significant financial blow to the targeted criminal networks, the elimination of funding sources will make it more difficult for these criminals to continue their operations. The operation demonstrates to the cyber-crime community that they cannot expect to win in the long run.
Similar asset seizures are happening globally. New Zealand authorities seized assets during a dark web drug syndicate raid that led to 11 arrests, showing that law enforcement is increasingly effective at hitting criminals where it hurts: their wallets.
INTERPOL Vows to Continue Regional Cybercrime Fight
INTERPOL Officials have indicated that Operation Cybore MENA only marks the start of long-term regional law enforcement action. Future operations will continue to target criminals using the Internet in MENA, they will build on lessons learned from prior law enforcement efforts.
The outcome of this operation sends a strong signal to those engaging in cybercrime. Law enforcement in the various nations across the region are working more closely than previously. Criminals who thought they could escape prosecution by hiding behind international borders will now face prosecution in many nations as applicable.
The organization urges individuals who have experienced any form of cybercrime to report incidents via the statutory reporting process. Reporting will assist law enforcement in defining and prioritizing emerging risks and defining additional enforcement actions. Also, the agencies provide the infrastructure needed for businesses and individuals for protection against fraud and scams via the Internet.
National police agencies involved in the implementation of the operation generally complimented the collaborative effort. The sharing of intelligence and other resources enabled each participating nation to maximize the effectiveness of its individual efforts. The overall created impression indicates that combating cybercrime needs to be a multinational effort.
Many in the security landscape expect future operations to include additional nations in MENA that did not participate in this initial effort. INTERPOL continues to work with its partners in the region to enhance the capability to enforce cybercrime-related laws. The organization is providing training assistance to help its member nations train their personnel to investigate complex digital crimes.
