Interpol has orchestrated a major crackdown on cybercrime across the Middle East and North Africa, resulting in the arrest of 201 individuals. This extensive operation, known as Operation Ramz, also identified 382 additional suspects linked to phishing and malware activities in the region.
International Collaboration and Seizures
The coordinated effort spanned 13 countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, among others. It resulted in the seizure of 53 servers and the identification of nearly 3,867 victims, according to Interpol’s announcement. The operation ran from October 2025 through February 2026.
Numerous private sector partners, such as Group-IB and Kaspersky, collaborated with law enforcement to track down illegal activities and dismantle the infrastructure used by the criminals.
Country-Specific Actions
In Algeria, authorities dismantled a phishing-as-a-service operation, arresting a suspect and seizing equipment linked to malicious activities. Meanwhile, Jordanian police uncovered a financial fraud scheme, arresting two orchestrators who exploited victims of human trafficking.
Moroccan law enforcement apprehended three individuals involved in phishing schemes, confiscating relevant digital devices. In Oman, a server compromised by malware was disabled, preventing further exploitation of sensitive information.
Global Cybercrime Threat and Response
Joe Sander, CEO of Team Cymru, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in tackling cybercrime, stating, “Cybercrime is borderless, and the only effective response is one that is equally borderless.” He highlighted Operation Ramz as a prime example of effective global collaboration.
The success of this operation underscores the necessity of ongoing international partnerships and intelligence-sharing to effectively combat cyber threats and protect victims worldwide.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, global law enforcement and private sectors remain vigilant and committed to dismantling criminal networks that exploit digital vulnerabilities.
