FBI Operation Arrests 276 Individuals, Dismantles 9 Crypto Pig Butchering Rings on April 29

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, an FBI-coordinated international operation arrested at least 276 individuals and dismantled nine cryptocurrency scam centers tied to pig butchering fraud schemes on April 29. The operation, described as the product of unprecedented cooperation between the FBI, Dubai Police Department, and the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, resulted in 275 arrests in Dubai under the direction of the UAE Ministry of Interior, with one additional fugitive detained by Thai authorities.

Federal charges were unsealed in the Southern District of California against six individuals, including nationals from Burma and Indonesia, tied to three organized front entities: Ko Thet Company, Sanduo Group, and Giant Company. The pig butchering scheme involved scammers cultivating trust through fake relationships before directing victims to fraudulent cryptocurrency investment platforms. According to FBI data, crypto-related fraud losses reached a record $11.3 billion in 2025, accounting for more than half of the $20.9 billion in total internet crime losses.