*World marks International Day of Remembrance for Fallen Officers* _Countries on all continents light up global landmarks in blue_ *LYON, France –* INTERPOL member countries are observing the International Day of Remembrance for Fallen Officers on 7 March, marking the sacrifice of police who have died in the line of duty. Across time zones and all continents, from small communities to global capitals, coordinated acts of remembrance are being held, including the illumination of iconic landmarks in INTERPOL blue — among them: - the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, *Argentina* ; the National Carillon in Canberra, *Australia* ; the Grand-Place in Brussels, *Belgium* ; Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, *Brazil* ; the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, *Bulgaria* ; the Ruinas de Huanchaca in Calama, *Chile* ; Cerro de Monserrate in Bogotá, *Colombia* ; Petřín Tower in Prague, *Czech Republic* ; La Virgen de El Panecillo in Quito, *Ecuador* ; the Monas National Monument in Jakarta, *Indonesia* ; the Colosseum in Rome, *Italy* ; Petra’s Treasury in *Jordan* ; Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower, *Malaysia* ; Ángel de la Independencia in Mexico City, *Mexico* ; the *Monaco* Royal Palace; the Sky Tower in Auckland, *New Zealand* ; the Quezon Memorial Shrine and BGen Rafael T. Crame Statue in Manila, *Philippines* ; the Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridge in Warsaw, *Poland* ; and Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, *Portugal* . ➡️🔗https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2026/World-marks-International-Day-of-Remembrance-for-Fallen-Officers Hundreds of buildings including police headquarters, government ministries, and notable civic structures are also being lit in blue across the world to mark the remembrance. National ceremonies on the day include moments of silence, the lowering of the flag, the laying of wreaths, and the reading of the names of fallen officers. The initiative, led by its member countries and coordinated by INTERPOL, recognizes the shared nature of law enforcement service and the universal dedication and sacrifices made by police officers. INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said: _“Every day, in every corner of the world, police officers put on a uniform, say goodbye to their families, and walk toward uncertainty, toward danger, toward a moment that may change their lives forever._ _“We remember the men and women who chose to serve their communities – and who gave everything in that service."_ Ceremonies to recognize the fallen were also held at INTERPOL’s General Secretariat in Lyon, France, and at its Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore. INTERPOL President Lucas Philippe said: _“Today, we honour those who have fallen, those who continue to serve, and those who support them._ _“Their sacrifice reminds us that policing is both a public mission and a truly vocational, personal commitment.”_ Reflecting both national customs and the common recognition of the sacrifices made by police, the remembrance underlines the transnational nature of policing and the risks faced by law enforcement officers. The day’s events underscore a shared understanding: while police service is rooted in local communities, its mission – to protect, serve and uphold justice – operates within an interconnected global framework, bound by international cooperation.

*65 victims identified, 60 arrests in year-long child sexual abuse operation in the Americas* _INTERPOL-coordinated operation brings together nine countries to safeguard victims and track offenders_ *LYON, France –* An international police operation has led to the arrest of 60 individuals for child sexual offences and the identification and rescue of 65 child victims, following a year-long effort by law enforcement in nine countries across Central America, North America and the Caribbean. Operation Eclipse (February 2025 – January 2026) targeted the production and distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation material, with a primary focus on identifying victims and reopening long-unsolved or “cold” cases. The majority of victims were aged between 5 and 13 years old, with approximately 80 per cent identified as girls. This underscores the disproportionate impact on girls, while highlighting that prevention and response efforts must also be adapted for boys. The victims who were minors at the time of the operation were rescued, receiving protective and aftercare measure from national authorities. ➡️🔗 https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2026/65-victims-identified-60-arrests-in-year-long-child-sexual-abuse-operation-in-the-Americas The alleged perpetrators had differing levels of connection to their victims. They included family members, friends, neighbours, educators, online predators and foreign travellers, highlighting that there is no one single profile of a sexual offender. Operation Eclipse was coordinated by INTERPOL, with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Child Rescue Coalition (CRC). The operation united law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities across Latin America to synchronize investigations, execute targeted interventions, and gather robust cross-border evidence. INTERPOL provided critical technical support, real-time intelligence sharing and strategic guidance throughout the operation. *Key cases: Seeking justice to prevent future harm* In Panama, authorities successfully resolved a long-standing case involving a victim who had remained unidentified on INTERPOL’s International Child Sexual Exploitation database for over a decade. The breakthrough was achieved through the INTERPOL Victim Identification Task Force for Latin American and the Caribbean, which brought together specialized officers from the region to analyse imagery and trace offenders. The identification allowed police to obtain critical evidence for judicial proceedings, ensured the victim received protection and support services and led to the identification of an additional victim. In the Dominican Republic, two suspects were apprehended for child sexual abuse crimes, including the production and possession of child sexual abuse material, related to two victims, aged 10 and 13. The mother of the victims was one of those arrested, charged with facilitating and perpetrating the abuse. The other suspect was a transnational sex offender who lived with the victims. The arrest led to the seizure of more abuse material, revealing further victims. Police in Costa Rica investigated a series of child abuse material on the International Child Sexual Exploitation database dating back more than 10 years. The specialized unit was able to confirm the identification of the underage victim. The offender had initially impersonated a celebrity online, then used grooming tactics, sextortion and threats against the victim’s family to maintain control over the victim. In another significant development, a bilateral meeting between Panama and the Dominican Republic resulted in the identification of two suspects wanted by Panamanian authorities for sexual offenses. Both individuals were located in Dominican territory, prompting the initiation of extradition proceedings. Cyril Gout, INTERPOL’s Acting Executive Director of Police Services, said: _“Pursuing older cases is not only about delivering justice and protecting victims, it is about preventing further harm. Operation Eclipse demonstrates that, through international collaboration and specialised expertise, even years-old abuse can be uncovered and those responsible brought to justice, helping to break the cycle of harm.”_ As part of the operation, participating countries were also asked to reassess 57 existing Notices related to individuals believed to be living within their borders. This included Red Notices – for internationally wanted child sexual offenders – and Blue Notices – seeking to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation. To date, 12 of those individuals have been located and apprehended, and efforts remain ongoing to trace and extradite the remaining suspects.

*INTERPOL Notices highlight growing threat of dual-use substances in South America* _Operation leads to global warning on new trend using diesel fuel to make clandestine explosives_ *LYON, France* – Police, immigration and customs agencies across Colombia, Ecuador and Peru have joined forces in the region’s first operation targeting cross-border smuggling of dual-use chemicals. Undertaken in November 2025, Operation CHASE was coordinated by INTERPOL and involved more than 50,000 inspections at borders and ports. In Ecuador, new intelligence led to the publication of an INTERPOL Orange Notice warning the Organization’s 196 member countries of a serious threat to public safety. Ecuadorean law enforcement officers had discovered explosive detonators in the cargo holds of public passenger coaches, a tactic that is increasingly being used by criminals in the region, putting legitimate passengers at risk by travelling alongside them to evade standard screening procedures, whether at international borders or inside the country. Read more ➡️🔗 https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2026/INTERPOL-Notices-highlight-growing-threat-of-dual-use-substances-in-South-America Patrols in the Huaquillas region, on Ecuador’s border with Peru, also led to the identification of a novel method of smuggling fuel across borders, using improvised tanker trucks constructed from repurposed agricultural transport vehicles. Investigations in the region have revealed that organized criminal networks are using legally traded industrial chemicals, particularly diesel fuel sourced from legitimate agricultural and commercial suppliers, to produce clandestine explosives. This discovery led to the publication of an INTERPOL Purple Notice to alert global law enforcement to this emerging criminal modus operandi. Officers also made three arrests – including a fugitive who was wanted internationally by Peru under an INTERPOL Red Notice and captured in Argentina, thanks to intelligence gathered during the operation and close coordination between INTERPOL offices in both countries. The suspect, a Peruvian national, is known to be affiliated with an organized crime group in Peru and linked to a wide range of criminal activities, including extortion involving explosives, illicit firearms trafficking and targeted violent attacks. The 12-day operation led to led to the seizure of explosives materials and equipment. In total, seizures in the three participating countries included: - 4,000 detonators - 10,450 litres of diesel fuel - 60,000 metres of safety fuse - 2 tonnes of explosives - 18 liquefied petroleum gas cylinders Operation CHASE South America highlighted the need for robust multi-agency collaboration and the power of sustained partnership between INTERPOL and its member countries. It followed similar operations in Southeast Asia and Western Africa, reflecting a global trend of criminal and terrorist networks increasingly weaponizing legal chemical supply chains.

*45,000 malicious IP addresses taken down in international cyber operation* _Police make 94 arrests in INTERPOL-coordinated operation_ *LYON, France* – An international cybercrime operation targeting phishing, malware and ransomware has taken down more than 45,000 malicious IP addresses and servers. Law enforcement from 72 countries and territories took part in Operation Synergia III (18 July 2025 – 31 January 2026), coordinated by INTERPOL. The operation led to the arrest of 94 people, with another 110 individuals still under investigation. ➡️🔗 https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2026/45-000-malicious-IP-addresses-taken-down-in-international-cyber-operation During the operation, INTERPOL transformed data into actionable intelligence, facilitated cross-border collaboration, and provided tactical operational assistance to member countries. Preliminary investigations led to a series of coordinated actions by national authorities, including raids on key locations and the disruption of malicious cyber activities. In total 212 electronic devices and servers were seized. Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, said: “Cybercrime in 2026 is more sophisticated and destructive than ever before, but Operation Synergia III stands as a powerful testament to what global cooperation can achieve. INTERPOL remains at the forefront of this fight, uniting law enforcement agencies and private sector experts to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt emerging threats and protect victims around the world.” *Fraudulent websites, romance scams and credit card fraud* Although several investigations are still ongoing in participating countries, preliminary reports of key cases demonstrate the breadth of the criminal tactics employed: - Law enforcement in Macau, China identified more than 33,000 phishing and fraudulent websites, related to fake casinos and critical infrastructure, such as official bank, government and payment service sites. Victims are defrauded by topping up their accounts via the fraudulent sites or by having their personal information and credit card details stolen. - Police in Togo arrested 10 suspects operating a fraud ring from a residential area. Some specialized in technical crimes such as hacking social media accounts, while others carried out social engineering schemes including romance scams and sextortion. After gaining access to an account, the criminals contacted the victim’s online contacts, impersonating the account holder to build fake romantic relationships or deceive friends and family members. Their ultimate goal was to persuade these secondary victims to make money transfers. - In Bangladesh, police arrested 40 suspects and seized 134 electronic devices related to a large range of cybercrime schemes, including loan and job scams, identify theft or credit card fraud. During Operation Synergia III, INTERPOL worked closely with its partners, Group-IB, Trend Micro and S2W, to track illegal cyber activities and identify malicious servers.

*INTERPOL report warns of increasingly sophisticated global financial fraud threat* _Threat assessment highlights hybrid tactics, global growth in scam centres and rise in sextortion_ Financial fraud is now one of the world’s most severe and rapidly evolving transnational crimes, with significant economic and human consequences. The 2026 INTERPOL Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment warns that with increased global criminal collaboration, fraud is no longer a peripheral threat, it is at the centre of polycriminality, intersecting with organized crime, human trafficking and cybercrime. Key findings include: * AI-enhanced fraud is 4.5 times more profitable than traditional methods. “Agentic AI” systems can autonomously plan and execute complete fraud campaigns - from reconnaissance to ransom demands. * Sextortion is now being systematically integrated into scams such as romance and investment fraud often using scripts and AI-generated content. * Criminal networks are increasingly collaborating with specialized money laundering groups and sharing expertise and technology to scale up their operations globally. * In parts of Africa, terrorist groups have been found to use fraud schemes, especially crypto-based scams, as a source of funding. * Once a regional phenomenon, scam centres have now been identified worldwide, involving hundreds of thousands of individuals, many of whom are trafficked and forced to carry out online fraud. ▶️🔗 https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2026/INTERPOL-report-warns-of-increasingly-sophisticated-global-financial-fraud-threat However, the report also found that law enforcement authorities are collaborating more effectively. Since 2024, the number of fraud-related INTERPOL Notices and Diffusions has increased by 54 per cent. Over the same period, INTERPOL supported member countries in more than 1,500 transnational fraud cases in lost assets valued at USD 1.1 billion. INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said: _“Enabled by artificial intelligence, low-cost digital tools and increased global criminal collaboration, we are witnessing the industrialization of fraud._ _“It is vital to remember that the cost of financial crime is not just money – it is people’s life savings, their dignity, and in the worst case, their life._ _“Strengthening cooperation between law enforcement, the private sector and raising public awareness is key in tackling this global security threat.”_ *Untangling the financial webs around scam centres* As highlighted in the threat assessment, scam centres are growing in number and scale, targeting ever greater numbers of victims. Although these operations are regularly shut down, the criminal leaders behind them remain hard to identify, using intermediaries and shell companies to hide their tracks and avoid detection. To close this critical gap, INTERPOL is launching Operation Shadow Storm, a new international task force funded by the United Kingdom’s Home Office as part of a unified, data-driven response. Using INTERPOL’s network and tools such as I-GRIP, a stop-payment mechanism, the task force will target not only the financial frauds generated by scam centres, but also the links to cybercrime and human trafficking for forced criminality. In parallel, INTERPOL is issuing new Guidelines on the Establishment and Operation of a National Anti-Scam Centre to encourage effective models in support of national efforts to detect, disrupt and dismantle scams networks and their activities. Summarizing successful approaches adopted by law enforcement agencies worldwide, the guidelines highlight key considerations and best practices to strengthen and better coordinate the global response. *Global Fraud Summit* Launched on the first day of the Global Fraud Summit (16 and 17 March) – jointly organized by INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) – together these three initiatives aim to underpin the collective public and private sector response. The event brings together more than 1,300 participants including government officials, law enforcement agencies, private sector leaders, tech companies and civil society organizations to explore how to work together and disrupt the systems that allow fraud to flourish.