Crypto “Pig-Butchering”: 276 Arrested as FBI, Dubai Police Bust Global Scam Network

FBI and Dubai Police arrested 276 in a massive crypto pig-butchering bust. Here is what the DOJ says happened and who got charged.

Law enforcement across three countries has taken down a major crypto fraud network. 

The FBI, Dubai Police, and Thailand’s Royal Thai Police arrested at least 276 individuals last week. The operation dismantled at least nine scam centers linked to pig-butchering schemes. 

According to the Department of Justice, the targeted victims were Americans who lost millions of dollars to fake crypto investments.

Related reading: 

How the Global Crypto Pig-Butchering Operation Went Down

Dubai Police led the crackdown under the UAE Ministry of Interior. Of the 276 arrests, 275 took place in Dubai. The Royal Thai Police apprehended one additional suspect in Thailand.

Three defendants from the Dubai arrests face federal charges in the Southern District of California. 

According to the DOJ, those charges include wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. The indictment and criminal complaints were unsealed in San Diego.

Six individuals were formally charged in connection with three alleged scam organizations. They are Thet Min Nyi, Wiliang Awang, Andreas Chandra, Lisa Mariam, and two fugitive co-conspirators. Two defendants remain at large.

The Suspects, the Charges, and the Scam Centers

According to court records, the defendants managed and operated three companies used as scam fronts. Those companies are Ko Thet Company, Sanduo Group, and Giant Company. 

The DOJ says these entities ran multiple scam centers across jurisdictions.

Thet Min Nyi, 27, is a Burmese national allegedly linked to Ko Thet Company. A grand jury indicted him in March 2026 on wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges. 

Chandra and Mariam, both Indonesian nationals, face wire fraud conspiracy charges tied to the other two groups.

Meta Platforms provided critical information during the investigation. The DOJ acknowledged the company’s assistance, which helped agents identify suspects and trace activity across platforms.

Read also: 

What Pig-Butchering Fraud Means for Crypto Victims

Pig-butchering is a long-con fraud scheme built on fake trust. Scammers approach victims through online friendships or romantic relationships. 

Over time, they introduce fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities. Victims transfer real funds to fraudulent platforms, believing they are investing.

The DOJ says scammers encouraged victims to borrow money from family and take out loans. Victims had no idea the platforms were fake. Once they sent funds, control was gone. Scammers then laundered the money through multiple cryptocurrency accounts.

FBI agents traced numerous victims through complaints filed with the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Investigators reviewed financial and crypto records to map the losses. 

said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, as quoted by the DOJ.

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