Global Pig-Butchering Enforcement Cluster — 276 Arrests / $M+ Seizures (2026)
Summary
A coordinated international law enforcement cluster spanning January through May 2026 dismantled multiple cryptocurrency romance-fraud (pig-butchering) networks, resulting in at least 276 arrests, the shutdown of nine scam compounds in Southeast Asia, and more than $701 million in cryptocurrency restrained. The cluster encompasses parallel actions by the U.S. Department of Justice Scam Center Strike Force, the FBI, Dubai Police, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, INTERPOL Operation First Light 2026, U.S. Treasury OFAC sanctions, and a separate DOJ seizure of $61 million in Tether — collectively representing the largest coordinated crackdown on pig-butchering fraud on record.
Connected Entities
1 entities · 10 linked investigations- + 1 more
Timeline(12 events)
2024-01-01
FBI launches Operation Level Up, a proactive victim identification initiative targeting active pig-butchering victims before total loss.
DOJ Office of Public Affairs2025-10-01
DOJ Prince Group forfeiture action targets Cambodia-based Prince Holding Group; Chen Zhi arrested January 6, 2026. Alleged $15 billion in Bitcoin seized in what DOJ described as its largest-ever forfeiture.
Crypto Times: 2026 Pig Butchering Reckoning2025-11-01
DOJ establishes the Scam Center Strike Force, an interagency body to coordinate U.S. federal response to Southeast Asian pig-butchering networks.
Cybernews: US launches Scam Center Strike Force2026-01-15
INTERPOL Operation First Light 2026 begins. Operation to run through April 30, 2026, spanning 97 countries and targeting social engineering fraud and money laundering networks.
INTERPOL official announcement2026-02-27
DOJ USAO-EDNC announces seizure of $61 million in Tether linked to pig-butchering fraud, with HSI Raleigh conducting the trace-and-seize action; Tether cooperates directly.
DOJ USAO-EDNC press release2026-03-01
Alleged managers of the Shunda compound in Myanmar, Huang Xingshan and Jiang Wen Jie, are arrested in Thailand by Royal Thai Police as they attempt to return to Burma after relocating to Cambodia post-seizure.
DOJ OPA: Scam Center Strike Force Actions2026-03-16
Operation Atlantic announced by U.S. Secret Service, UK NCA, Ontario Provincial Police, and Ontario Securities Commission. $12 million frozen, 20,000+ wallet addresses identified, 120+ domains disrupted.
Crypto Times: 2026 Pig Butchering Reckoning2026-03-01
Southern District of California grand jury returns indictment against Thet Min Nyi (Ko Thet Company) and a fugitive co-defendant on wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges.
DOJ OPA: Coordinated Takedown of Scam Centers2026-04-23
DOJ Scam Center Strike Force announces charges against Huang Xingshan and Jiang Wen Jie for the Shunda compound in Burma; 503 fake investment websites seized; $701.96 million in cryptocurrency restrained; Telegram recruitment channel seized.
DOJ OPA: Scam Center Strike Force Actions2026-04-24
U.S. Treasury OFAC designates 29 individuals and entities including Cambodian Senator Kok An, Rithy Raksmei, Luo Hong, and associates under Executive Order 13694 for operating pig-butchering scam networks.
U.S. Treasury press release sb04692026-04-29
DOJ announces coordinated takedown: 276 arrests (275 in Dubai, 1 in Thailand) by Dubai Police, FBI, and Chinese Ministry of Public Security; 9 scam centers dismantled; charges unsealed in Southern District of California against Thet Min Nyi, Wiliang Awang, Andreas Chandra, Lisa Mariam, and two fugitive co-conspirators.
DOJ Office of Public Affairs2026-04-30
INTERPOL Operation First Light 2026 concludes. Final tally: 5,811 arrests, $293 million intercepted, 142,000+ victims identified across 97 countries.
INTERPOL official announcementDecision Log
- #1publish⛓ pending8/7/2026, 12:10:28 AMhash: 2bMhfLqHJAB6EUwrN77STyVzT3MTgPdGWKUN9p98SDu2
21 of 22 cited source URLs have an Internet Archive snapshot.
model: claude-sonnet-4-6
generated: 8/7/2026, 12:10:16 AM
last updated: 8/7/2026, 4:14:43 AM
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