Global Crackdown: FBI-Led Operation Yields 276 Arrests in “Pig Butchering” Crypto Scam Networks

Washington, D.C. – In an unprecedented international operation, the FBI, Dubai Police, China’s Ministry of Public Security, and Thailand’s Royal Thai Police have arrested 276 individuals and dismantled nine scam centers responsible for millions in losses to American victims through sophisticated cryptocurrency “pig butchering” frauds.

Announced on April 29, 2026, the coordinated takedown targeted transnational networks using romance and friendship ploys to lure victims into fake crypto investment platforms, marking one of the largest crackdowns on such schemes.

Anatomy of the “Pig Butchering” Scams

These long-con frauds—termed “pig butchering” for “fattening” victims with fake gains before “slaughtering” their funds—involved scammers building trust via social media or dating apps, then directing deposits to bogus trading sites.

• Six defendants charged in San Diego’s Southern District of California, including Thet Min Nyi (Burma, age 27) and Lisa Mariam (Indonesia, age 29), allegedly managed operations like “Sanduo Group” and “Giant Company.”
• Dubai authorities detained 275 suspects; Thai police arrested one additional fugitive.
• Networks defrauded U.S. victims of millions, with FBI tracing patterns back to 2025 via the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Unprecedented Multinational Cooperation

The operation stemmed from a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation launched in 2025, building on Executive Order 14159 prioritizing cybercrime disruption.

Meta Platforms provided critical data, while Operation Level Up has already warned 9,000 potential victims and prevented $562 million in losses.

Authorities seized millions in digital assets, with ongoing efforts targeting Southeast Asian compounds.

Legal Actions and Victim Guidance

Federal charges include wire fraud and money laundering (case numbers 26CR762-RSH, 26MJ2437-AHG), prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Horn and DOJ’s Computer Crime section.

All defendants are presumed innocent; investigations continue.

Victims are urged to report at ic3.gov to aid recovery efforts.

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