Operation Blackout followed a surge in complaints to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center
US authorities have seized more than $8 billion in Bitcoin and arrested nearly 300 people as part of Operation Blackout, a multinational crackdown on global scam compounds.
The FBI confiscated more than 127,000 Bitcoin from Chen Zhi, chief executive of Cambodia-based Prince Holding Group. Officials described the seizure as the largest forfeiture in US government history. The crypto is currently worth more than $8 billion, though authorities said its value may have exceeded $15 billion when agents first seized it.
Among the groups targeted was the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, an armed militia operating in Myanmar. US authorities designated it a transnational criminal organisation and linked it to large-scale scam operations with alleged ties to Chinese organised crime.
In Dubai, local police and the FBI arrested 275 people, six of whom face extradition to the United States. Nine scam compounds raided there each generated about $6 million a year in fraud proceeds.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated the bureau helped free nearly 2,000 trafficked workers and shut down fraud operations across multiple continents. Some scam compounds relied on trafficked workers. Criminal groups allegedly lured people with promises of jobs and visas before forcing them to run scams under threats of violence.
The FBI also partnered with Starlink to identify fraudsters using satellite internet terminals. As part of the effort, Starlink suspended more than 7,000 terminals in Myanmar.
Operation Blackout followed a surge in complaints to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. In 2025, the center received nearly 72,000 reports of crypto investment fraud, resulting in more than $7.5 billion in losses. Chen Zhi has been charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
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