A massive international law enforcement operation led by Interpol has recently concluded. Named "Synergia III", the operation targeted a wide range of cybercriminal activities, including scams and ransomware attacks. Involving law enforcement from over 70 countries, Synergia III resulted in the seizure of 45,000 IP addresses and the arrest of nearly 100 individuals worldwide. While the operation has wrapped up, investigations remain ongoing.
What We Know
Based on Interpol’s report, it appears that the organization conducted the intelligence and data-gathering related to malicious IP addresses. The operation specifically targeted IP infrastructure involved in phishing, malware, and ransomware campaigns. This intelligence was shared with relevant law enforcement agencies around the world, leading to the seizure of approximately 45,000 IP addresses.
In addition, 94 individuals were arrested and 212 devices were seized. Authorities are also investigating another 110 people in connection with the operation. The scale of international participation was significant, with 72 countries involved: 31 from Africa, 21 from Asia, and 13 from Europe. The full list of participating countries is available on Interpol’s blog covering the operation.
Most of the seized IP addresses were located in Macau, China, where authorities took down around 33,000 phishing websites linked to fake casinos and critical infrastructure targets. Bangladesh recorded the highest number of arrests, with 40 suspects apprehended and 134 devices seized. These arrests were connected to cybercrime schemes including loan and job scams, identity theft, and credit card fraud. Togo recorded the second-highest number of arrests, with 10 suspects detained, primarily linked to hacking and social engineering operations such as romance scams.
Disrupting Cybercriminal Networks
Synergia seems to have become a series of sorts, with new chapters emerging roughly every year. The previous Synergia operations were also big, but not as massive in scale. Synergia I led to the takedown of around 1,300 servers used to manage malicious campaigns such as phishing and ransomware. Synergia II came in even stronger, involving 95 countries and resulting in the seizure of 22,000 IP addresses and 41 arrests. The latest operation steps things up again, with even more IP addresses seized and more arrests, despite fewer countries being involved.
Regarding this operation, Interpol’s director emphasized: “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”. He also added, “INTERPOL remains at the forefront of this fight, uniting law enforcement agencies”.
Conclusion
Although statements from law enforcement can sometimes feel formal or cautious, in this case it reflects reality. Interpol appears to have done exactly that—bringing agencies together worldwide, gathering intelligence for them, and providing information about crimes local law enforcement might not have been aware of, leading directly to arrests and seizures. Investigations remain active at the local level, with a strong possibility of additional arrests.
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