UAE leads global digital fraud crackdown with 960 arrests and $39 billion in illicit assets uncovered

The UAE Ministry of Interior led Operation Confrontation Ghost from July to September 2026, a major global crackdown that identified over $39 billion in illicit funds and digital assets. Uniting law enforcement from 30 countries, INTERPOL, and 13 private-sector giants like Meta and Mastercard, the operation resulted in over 960 arrests, raided 29 fraud centers, and blocked 4,126 bank accounts to disrupt AI-enabled fraud, digital financial schemes, and online sextortion.

Scale and enforcement operational results

• ▪During Operation Confrontation Ghost, authorities blocked 4,126 bank accounts, closed over 570 fraud-linked social media accounts, and exchanged over 9,000 pieces of intelligence.
• ▪The UAE Ministry of Interior led Operation Confrontation Ghost from July 1 to September 30, 2026, thwarting over 123.71 million online fraud attempts worldwide.
• ▪Operation Confrontation Ghost resulted in the arrest of over 960 defendants, identified 3,500 suspects and 15,500 victims, and raided 29 fraud centers across 30 countries.

International coalition and partner agency involvement

• ▪13 private-sector technology and financial services companies participated in Operation Confrontation Ghost, including Meta, TikTok, Mastercard, Huawei, Crypto.com, dubizzle, and Bayut.
• ▪Private-sector technology partners in Operation Confrontation Ghost provided expertise to detect fraudulent activities, disrupt criminal networks, and prevent digital platform misuse.
• ▪INTERPOL, the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), and law enforcement agencies from 30 participating nations, including the UAE, UK, US, Japan, France, Brazil, and South Korea, partnered to execute Operation Confrontation Ghost.

Financial assets uncovered and recovery efforts

• ▪Operation Confrontation Ghost identified more than $39 billion in illicit funds and digital assets linked to international fraudulent activities.
• ▪Participating countries, judicial authorities, and private-sector companies in Operation Confrontation Ghost are actively working to recover the identified $39 billion in illicit assets.

United Nations statements

• ▪United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Executive Director Dr. Monica Kathina Juma praised UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for supporting efforts to strengthen international cooperation.
• ▪UN Office on Drugs and Crime Executive Director Dr. Monica Kathina Juma praised Operation Confrontation Ghost as a model of international cooperation against emerging digital crimes.

Objectives of Operation Confrontation Ghost

• ▪Operation Confrontation Ghost focused on strengthening international cooperation, sharing intelligence, tracking criminal activities, and accelerating responses to digital threats.
• ▪Operation Confrontation Ghost targeted three primary forms of digital crime: artificial-intelligence-enabled fraud, financial fraud through digital platforms, and online sextortion.

Disrupting illicit financial flows

• ▪UAE Ministry of Interior Director-General Colonel Dana Al Marzouqi stated that real-time intelligence sharing helps law enforcement agencies trace illicit financial flows and target criminal networks.
• ▪Criminal networks in Operation Confrontation Ghost exploited digital platforms, bank accounts, and cryptocurrencies to transfer funds and conceal illicit origins.