The Cyber Crime Centre of the Maldives Police Service has played a vital role in “Operation Secure,” a major international cybercrime crackdown spearheaded by INTERPOL and coordinated through the Asia and South Pacific Joint Operations Against Cybercrime (ASPJOC).

The operation, which took place from January to April 2025, resulted in the dismantling of over 20,000 malicious IP addresses and domains associated with information-stealing malware. These "info-stealers" are designed to covertly extract sensitive data, including passwords, credit card details, browser credentials, and cryptocurrency wallet information, often serving as a gateway to more severe cyberattacks such as ransomware and financial fraud.

During the operation, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) investigated digital threats and indicators specific to the Maldivian cyber landscape. In collaboration with INTERPOL and several private-sector entities, MPS gathered, analysed, and shared intelligence related to malicious cyber infrastructure impacting the country.

A key component of MPS’s efforts involved cooperation with local service providers to obtain technical data crucial in identifying compromised networks and systems. The findings were shared with international counterparts to strengthen global efforts.

“Our involvement in Operation Secure reflects our continued commitment to fighting cybercrime both within the Maldives and across international borders,” the head of the Cyber Crime Centre stated. “Collaboration with INTERPOL and law enforcement agencies worldwide is essential to combating these sophisticated and borderless threats.”

The outcome of the operation was substantial. Authorities reported the seizure of 41 servers, over 100 gigabytes of stolen data, and the arrest of 32 suspects involved in illegal cyber activities. More than 216,000 individuals and organisations were identified as victims or potential victims, many of whom were contacted and advised on protective measures.

We want to emphasise that cybercrime remains a growing global challenge, and we pledge to continue enhancing our technical capabilities while strengthening partnerships with international agencies.

“The digital world is increasingly becoming interconnected, and so must be our response to the threats it faces,” the head of the Cyber Crime Centre added.

Operation Secure marks one of the most coordinated and large-scale responses to info-stealer malware to date, highlighting the importance of global cooperation in addressing modern cybercrime.