The Role of Interpol in Combating Cybercrime

by

Lika Chimchiuri 

CyJurII Scholar

on 5 February 2026

Abstract 

This article examines INTERPOL’s role in preventing and combating cybercrime worldwide. It highlights the work of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate, the Global Cybercrime Program, and key operational tools such as the I‑24/7 secure communication system. Using Operation Falcon as a case study, the article demonstrates how international cooperation enables effective responses to transnational cyber threats. 

Main Body

This article examines INTERPOL’s role in combating cybercrime and the institutional mechanisms it has developed to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats. A central component of INTERPOL’s work in this area is the Cybercrime Directorate, whose mandate is to promote global cooperation, coordination, and technical support among national law enforcement agencies in addressing cybercrime[1].

INTERPOL’s Global Cybercrime Programme

Through its Cybercrime Directorate, INTERPOL has established the Global Cybercrime Programme, which is made available to all member states to strengthen national law enforcement capacities. The programme aims to reduce the global impact of cybercrime and contribute to a safer digital environment by supporting prevention, investigation, and international cooperation.[2]

The Global Cybercrime Programme is structured around three core pillars:

• Response: identifying cyber threats and coordinating targeted actions to disrupt and mitigate them;

• Capacity Development: supporting the development of cybersecurity strategies, response mechanisms, and technical skills within member states;

• Operations: coordinating international investigations and operational actions against cybercriminal networks.

Cybercrime Threat Response (CTR)

The Cybercrime Threat Response (CTR) mechanism serves as INTERPOL’s global framework for addressing cybercrime threats. It focuses on gathering and analysing intelligence related to identified cyber risks in order to develop effective prevention and mitigation strategies. The CTR mechanism prioritizes high-risk and high-impact cyber threats and issues operational and strategic recommendations to member states to counter emerging cybercrime trends.[3]

Cybersecurity Strategy and Capacity Development

The Cybersecurity Strategy and Capacity Development Division supports member states in strengthening their cyber-related skills, institutional knowledge, and technical capabilities in line with INTERPOL standards. In cooperation with public and private partners, this division designs and implements projects and programmes tailored to the specific needs of member states, thereby enhancing their ability to prevent and respond to cyber incidents.[4]

Cybercrime Operations

The Cybercrime Operations Division coordinates transnational operational activities aimed at countering cyber threats that pose serious risks to national, regional, and global peace and security. Working closely with member states, private-sector actors, and national Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), this division supports joint investigations and operational measures targeting high-impact cybercrimes.[5]

INTERPOL Command and Coordination Centre and the Cyber Fusion Centre

Another key structure within INTERPOL is the INTERPOL Command and Coordination Centre (CCC), which operates on a 24/7 basis from hubs in Singapore, London, and Buenos Aires. The CCC provides rapid operational assistance to the INTERPOL General Secretariat and member states by facilitating direct contact, supporting cybercrime investigations, locating fugitives, and enabling access to INTERPOL databases.[6]

Singapore hosts INTERPOL’s Cyber Fusion Centre, which functions as a central data and intelligence exchange hub for cyber threats. The Centre enables real-time information sharing and operational coordination among member states, illustrating how strategic geographic hubs enhance international cybercrime cooperation.[7]

I-24/7 and Secure Information Sharing

Global information sharing and crime-related data analysis are fundamental to INTERPOL’s operational effectiveness. INTERPOL provides law enforcement agencies with a secure global communication system known as I-24/7, which connects authorized officers from all INTERPOL member countries and enables the secure exchange of sensitive information.[8]

Key features of the I-24/7 system include:

• availability in four working languages: Arabic, English, French, and Spanish;

• access to 19 global databases containing more than 110 million records;

• extensive use by law enforcement agencies, with over 3.9 billion database searches conducted worldwide in 2020 alone.[9]

In addition, INTERPOL offers Translation as a Service (TAAS) through its secure cloud platform, enabling multilingual communication and significantly enhancing cross-border cooperation in cybercrime investigations.

Operation Falcon: A Case Study in International Cooperation

A practical illustration of INTERPOL’s operational impact is Operation Falcon, which targeted organized cybercrime groups operating in Nigeria, Ghana, and other West African countries. These groups were primarily involved in Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud schemes, resulting in financial losses amounting to millions of dollars for companies worldwide.[10]

During the operation, INTERPOL relied on the I-24/7 system to coordinate real-time intelligence sharing across four continents. In November 2020, this cooperation led to the arrest of suspects in Lagos following a joint investigation conducted by INTERPOL, Group-IB, and the Nigerian Police Force. According to Group-IB, the criminal network had compromised government and private-sector entities in more than 150 countries since 2017. This case clearly demonstrates the critical role of international cooperation in uncovering cybercrime networks and ensuring the arrest of perpetrators.

Conclusion

INTERPOL plays a crucial role in the global fight against cybercrime by promoting cooperation, providing secure tools, and coordinating operational responses. Its communication systems, databases, and capacity building initiatives enable member states to respond effectively to cyber threats. Operations such as Falcon demonstrate that international collaboration is not optional but essential for combating cybercrime and protecting citizens and businesses worldwide.

References 

1. Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (2021) The Singapore Cybersecurity Strategy 2021. Singapore: Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, p. 58. ISBN 978-981-18-2258-2. Available at: www.csa.gov.sg (Accessed: 13 May 2025).

2. INTERPOL (2021a) African Cyberthreat Assessment Report: INTERPOL’s key insight into cybercrime in Africa. Lyon: INTERPOL, pp. 20, 23, 27, 29. Available at: www.interpol.int/en/content/download/17064/file/INTERPOL_UN_Convention_Cybercrime.pdf (Accessed: 13 May 2025).

3. INTERPOL (2021b) INTERPOL’s contribution to the elaboration of a comprehensive international convention on countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes. Lyon: INTERPOL, p. 6. Available at: www.interpol.int/en/content/download/17064/file/INTERPOL_UN_Convention_Cybercrime.pdf (Accessed: 13 May 2025).

4. INTERPOL (2022) ‘Nigerian cybercrime fraud: 11 suspects arrested, syndicate busted’, INTERPOL News, 19 January. Available at: www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2022/Nigerian-cybercrime-fraud-11-suspects-arrested-syndicate-busted (Accessed: 13 May 2025).

Keywords: Cybercrime, INTERPOL, Cybersecurity, International Cooperation, I-24/7

[1] NTERPOL. African Cyberthreat Assessment Report: INTERPOL's Key Insight into Cybercrime in Africa. October 2021, INTERPOL,

 www.interpol.int/en/content/download/17064/file/INTERPOL_UN_Convention_Cybercrime.pdf.  Accessed 13 May 2025. p. 20

[2] NTERPOL. African Cyberthreat Assessment Report: INTERPOL's Key Insight into Cybercrime in Africa. October 2021, INTERPOL,

 www.interpol.int/en/content/download/17064/file/INTERPOL_UN_Convention_Cybercrime.pdf.  Accessed 13 May 2025. p. 23

[3] NTERPOL. African Cyberthreat Assessment Report: INTERPOL's Key Insight into Cybercrime in Africa. October 2021, INTERPOL,

 www.interpol.int/en/content/download/17064/file/INTERPOL_UN_Convention_Cybercrime.pdf.  Accessed 13 May 2025. p. 27

[4] Cyber Security Agency of Singapore. The Singapore Cybersecurity Strategy 2021. Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, 2021. Designed by APT811 Design & Innovation Agency, www.csa.gov.sg, Accessed 13 May 2025, ISBN: 978-981-18-2258-2. p. 58

[5] INTERPOL. "INTERPOL’s Contribution to the Elaboration of a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes." October 2021. INTERPOL, www.interpol.int/en/content/download/17064/file/INTERPOL_UN_Convention_Cybercrime.pdf. Accessed 13 May 2025, p. 6

[6] INTERPOL. “Nigerian Cybercrime Fraud: 11 Suspects Arrested, Syndicate Busted.” INTERPOL, 19 Jan. 2022, www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2022/Nigerian-cybercrime-fraud-11-suspects-arrested-syndicate-busted, Accessed 13 May 2025

[7] NTERPOL. African Cyberthreat Assessment Report: INTERPOL's Key Insight into Cybercrime in Africa. October 2021, INTERPOL,

www.interpol.int/en/content/download/17064/file/INTERPOL_UN_Convention_Cybercrime.pdf.  Accessed 13 May 2025. p. 29

[8] INTERPOL. "INTERPOL’s Contribution to the Elaboration of a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes." October 2021. INTERPOL, www.interpol.int/en/content/download/17064/file/INTERPOL_UN_Convention_Cybercrime.pdf. Accessed 13 May 2025, p. 6

[9] INTERPOL. "INTERPOL’s Contribution to the Elaboration of a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes." October 2021. INTERPOL, www.interpol.int/en/content/download/17064/file/INTERPOL_UN_Convention_Cybercrime.pdf. Accessed 13 May 2025, p. 6

[10] INTERPOL. “Nigerian Cybercrime Fraud: 11 Suspects Arrested, Syndicate Busted.” INTERPOL, 19 Jan. 2022, www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2022/Nigerian-cybercrime-fraud-11-suspects-arrested-syndicate-busted, Accessed 13 May 2025