Sharjah Police say they have dismantled four interconnected international criminal networks and arrested 33 suspects from 12 nationalities in a cross-border operation that authorities say prevented a planned kidnapping and killing targeting a digital-asset holder. The operation, named End of the Battle, was conducted with the UAE Ministry of Interior.
Authorities said the case exposed alleged links between hacking, digital-wallet theft, online fraud, extortion, money laundering and physical violence. Assets belonging to more than 30 companies and institutions worldwide, valued at over AED65 billion, were secured during the operation. The figure describes assets protected, not a claim that the entire amount was seized as criminal proceeds.
Four networks with different roles
According to authorities, the alleged organisation split its work across four connected groups. One allegedly hacked systems and stole personal or financial data; another moved illicit proceeds through virtual assets; a third used phishing and social engineering to steal digital wallets; and a fourth allegedly used threats, kidnapping plans and physical assaults to force victims to reveal wallet access codes.
Investigators said the inquiry gathered digital and financial evidence across borders and led officers to suspected network members and leaders, including people brought back from abroad. A juvenile was reportedly identified during the investigation with a digital wallet holding large sums. Police said the inquiry then uncovered links to wider suspected hacking, extortion and wallet-theft activity. The allegations remain subject to the legal process.
Billions traced through wallets and financial channels
Sharjah Public Prosecution identified AED8.825 billion in funds involved in suspected money laundering, according to the official account of the investigation. Authorities said the funds moved through bank accounts, digital wallets and multiple platforms, with companies and intermediaries allegedly used to obscure their origins before proceeds were converted into property and luxury assets.
More than AED200 million was seized. Authorities also reported the seizure or reservation of 17 luxury cars, 29 valuable watches, jewellery, residential property, digital wallets and other items. Investigators reviewed more than 3,000 digital wallets and examined 103 electronic devices, while the wider inquiry involved extensive documentary and financial analysis.
Cybercrime combined with real-world intimidation
The case highlights how online theft can be connected to coercion outside the digital world. Investigators say the network allegedly used compromised data and encrypted communications alongside phishing, artificial-intelligence-assisted fraud and the laundering of virtual assets. Such a model can make individual incidents appear separate while the proceeds, data and perpetrators move through a shared structure.
Authorities described cooperation among local, federal and international bodies as central to identifying the alleged network and tracing assets. The AED65 billion figure refers to the estimated value of assets secured for more than 30 companies and institutions; it should not be conflated with the AED8.825 billion prosecutors linked to suspected laundering or the more than AED200 million reported seized.
What individuals and businesses can do
Police urged residents to verify identities before financial transactions and never disclose passwords, account credentials or one-time passwords. Banks and government agencies should not require customers to reveal confidential login information through unsolicited calls or messages. Unexpected requests to move money, share a wallet recovery phrase or provide an access code should be treated as warning signs.
For businesses, the investigation underlines the value of multi-factor authentication, restricted access to financial systems, staff training against phishing, rapid reporting of suspicious activity and preservation of digital evidence. Because wallet transactions and funds can cross borders quickly, early reporting and coordination with financial institutions may be crucial to tracing or freezing suspected proceeds.
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ForensicTimes · forensictimes.com · Global Investigative Journalism on Crime, Justice, and Forensic Science · This report reflects verified open-source and wire reporting current as of publication. © 2026 ForensicTimes. All Rights Reserved.
