Dozens arrested in Sharjah Police crackdown on $2.4 billion global money laundering scheme

Sharjah Police conducted an international crackdown on a global money laundering scheme, arresting 33 suspects from 12 countries, according to officials. The suspects were allegedly part of an organized criminal network that targeted individuals and companies through cyberattacks, digital wallet theft, and violent assaults. Lieutenant General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer, commander-in-chief of Sharjah Police, stated that the gang did not rely on a single type of criminal activity and had established a complex, hidden infrastructure in cyberspace.

The suspects used sophisticated encryption methods and maintained a façade of wealth while engaging in illicit activities across countries. Sharjah Police's Digital Crime Combat Department uncovered the gang's operations, which involved cyber fraud, digital wallet theft, and money laundering. The suspects were accused of operating through four specialized sub-groups, each focusing on different aspects of the criminal scheme.

The operation, codenamed "End of Battle," resulted in the arrest of the suspects, protection of interests and assets, and limiting potential economic and security repercussions. Assets worth over Dh65 billion were secured, and more than Dh200 million in cash was seized. The investigation revealed a cross-border criminal organization with integrated roles, from fraud and hacking to violent assaults and the conversion of ill-gotten gains into legitimate investments.