International Police Cooperation (Interpol) has successfully concluded a major international operation, retrieving $439 million linked to various illicit activities.
Within this substantial recovery, approximately $97 million was sourced from cryptocurrencies and tangible assets.
The initiative
, known as Operation HAECHI VI, spanned from April to August, targeting seven primary forms of cybercrime, including money laundering schemes, investment scams, romance cons, phishing attacks, and fraudulent e-commerce practices.
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The collaborative effort led to the freezing of over 68,000 bank accounts and the shutdown of approximately 400 cryptocurrency wallets. Authorities recovered around $16 million from these wallets, demonstrating the potential to track and reclaim misappropriated digital funds.
In one specific instance in Portugal, investigators uncovered a scheme involving the diversion of social assistance payments intended for vulnerable families. Forty-five individuals were apprehended by law enforcement in connection with this crime, suspected of illicitly obtaining $270,000 from 531 victims.
The international law enforcement operation received substantial support from South Korea and involved agencies from 40 countries globally, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
According to Interpol’s Theos Badege, the operation’s success emphasizes the importance of international collaboration in recovering stolen assets. He noted that Operation HAECHI has become a vital component of Interpol’s strategy against financial crime.
In related news, U.S. federal officials in Massachusetts have initiated legal proceedings to seize about $584,741 in Tether (USDT) from an Iranian national. Discover the reason for the seizure:
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