China Joins U.S. and UAE in Dubai Raids That Arrested 276
China joined U.S. and UAE police in Dubai raids on nine pig-butchering scam centers, arresting 276 suspects and closing the facilities.
Law enforcement from China, the United States and the United Arab Emirates conducted coordinated raids in Dubai that closed nine scam centers and led to the arrest of 276 people linked to pig-butchering operations. The action targeted networks that use online romance schemes to push victims into fake cryptocurrency investments.
Investigators describe pig-butchering scams as long-term romance frauds that build trust over weeks or months, then pressure victims to transfer funds or convert assets into cryptocurrency. The operations often begin on dating apps, social media or messaging platforms and make use of encrypted messaging, offshore bank accounts and rapid cryptocurrency transfers to move and launder stolen money.
Authorities have linked these criminal networks to human trafficking, recruiting and forcing people to work in scam centers in countries including Cambodia and Myanmar. Reports say coerced operators and victims in those centers face threats and violence.
China’s Ministry of Public Security called the operation “a major achievement in Chinese police efforts to advance international law enforcement cooperation.” The ministry announced plans to deepen cooperation, carry out joint crackdowns, dismantle telecom fraud dens and pursue suspects to protect people in all countries.
U.S. authorities recorded nearly $6 billion in losses from pig-butchering scams in 2024. The FBI launched Operation Level Up in 2024 to identify victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud; the initiative contacted 8,103 victims and helped prevent collective losses of more than $500 million.
Global losses from pig-butchering schemes have been estimated at roughly $75 billion since 2020. Officials from the countries involved said they will continue sharing information and conducting joint operations to trace funds and pursue prosecutions. Investigators noted that encrypted communications, offshore accounts and quick cryptocurrency transfers present challenges to tracing stolen assets and recovering funds.
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