INTERPOL reported that its four-month Operation HAECHI-II led to 1,003 arrests and the interception of nearly US$27 million in illicit funds. The crackdown targeted online fraud and related money laundering from June to September 2021; the results were announced on 26 November 2021. INTERPOL also reported 1,660 cases closed and 2,350 bank accounts blocked.
What was Operation HAECHI-II?
HAECHI-II was an INTERPOL-coordinated operation against cyber-enabled financial crime. It was the second operation in a three-year project supported by the Republic of Korea, and INTERPOL described it as the project’s first operation with global scope. Specialized police units from 20 countries participated, alongside Hong Kong and Macao. INTERPOL characterized the cooperation as involving 22 jurisdictions and said participating jurisdictions spanned every continent. INTERPOL’s announcement provides the operation’s dates and reported results.
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What did INTERPOL report?
| Reported result | HAECHI-II total |
|---|---|
| Arrests | 1,003 |
| Cases closed | 1,660 |
| Bank accounts linked to illicit proceeds blocked | 2,350 |
| Illicit funds intercepted | Nearly US$27 million |
| INTERPOL notices produced | More than 50 |
| New criminal methods identified | 10 |
These are results reported by INTERPOL for this 2021 operation, not annual or global cybercrime totals. “Intercepted” does not establish that the funds were all seized, returned to victims, or recovered. The separate figure of 2,350 refers to blocked accounts; the announcement does not say that every account’s funds were recovered.
Which crimes did the operation target?
HAECHI-II focused on online fraud and associated financial activity, including:
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- Money laundering connected with illegal online gambling
The reported arrest total is linked to fraud and money-laundering investigations, but INTERPOL did not provide a complete offense-by-offense breakdown for all 1,003 people arrested. It should not be read as a count of people convicted, or as proof that every arrest involved the same type of crime.
How did investigators coordinate across borders?
INTERPOL said the operation generated more than 50 notices and identified 10 new criminal modus operandi—methods used to commit or conceal crimes. It also piloted an Anti-Money Laundering Rapid Response Protocol (ARRP), designed to support rapid stop-payment requests when investigators trace suspicious transfers. INTERPOL said the protocol proved critical to successful interception in several cases, but did not quantify how much of the nearly US$27 million was intercepted through ARRP. The operation release describes these investigative tools.
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What was the Squid Game app case?
One example in INTERPOL’s announcement concerned a malicious app using the branding of the television series Squid Game. In a Purple Notice requested by Colombia, INTERPOL described an app that could steal billing information and subscribe users to premium services without their explicit approval. The example illustrates the operation’s attention to online fraud; it does not establish that the app accounted for a particular share of arrests or intercepted funds. INTERPOL’s release includes the case description.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did INTERPOL say about the results?
At the time of the November 2021 announcement, INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said: “The results of Operation HAECHI-II show that the surge in online financial crime generated by the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of waning,” according to INTERPOL. This was Stock’s assessment in 2021, not a current measurement of cybercrime trends.
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