General

MBABANE – The dismantling of an alleged illegal online gambling syndicate is a testament to the collective efforts of all stakeholders who participated in the investigations.

This was said by the National Commissioner of Police, Manoma Vusi Masango . He said the international recognition accorded to Eswatini following Masango said while the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) was honoured by the recognition, it did not belong to the police alone.

He made the remarks in an interview with the Times of Eswatini after INTERPOL identified Eswatini among countries that contributed to Operation First Light 2026, a global anti-fraud operation that led to the interception of illicit assets worth US$293 million (about E4.81 billion) and the arrest of 5 811 suspects across 97 countries and territories. “We appreciate all the stakeholders who worked with us throughout the investigations. We do not take this recognition lightly. It is recognition for everyone who played a role in ensuring the success of this operation,” Masango said.

He said the success of the investigation demonstrated what could be achieved when government institutions and international partners worked together to combat organised crime.

The national commissioner revealed that Eswatini’s operation had also been singled out for praise by INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza during a recent international meeting.

According to Masango, the secretary general commended the work carried out by Eswatini, saying intelligence generated from the investigation assisted authorities beyond the country’s borders. “He indicated that the work done in Eswatini resulted in further arrests in other countries,” Masango said.

He said Cambodia was among the countries where about 200 suspects linked to similar criminal operations were reportedly arrested, following intelligence developed during the investigations. Masango further disclosed that investigators had since identified some of the people who were allegedly defrauded by suspects operating from Eswatini. He said although the alleged syndicate was operating from within the kingdom, the victims were located in different countries, illustrating the transnational nature of the criminal enterprise.

“The country was being used as a theatre of operation, but the victims were in other jurisdictions. Some of those victims have now been identified through the investigations,” he said.

Masango said the case highlighted the importance of cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and international policing organisations in tackling cyber-enabled organised crime. He added that investigations into the matter were continuing, including the analysis of digital evidence seized during the operation, to establish the full extent of the alleged criminal activities and identify any additional links to international criminal networks.The national commissioner reiterated that the recognition received by Eswatini should inspire all stakeholders involved in law enforcement to strengthen cooperation in combating transnational organised crime.

“It is not about the police only. It is about every stakeholder that worked with us. Without that cooperation, this success would not have been possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Eswatini is among countries that participated alongside nations from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.

The outcome of Operation First Light 2026 highlights the changing nature of crime, where criminal networks no longer require physical borders to operate. As investigations continue, authorities are expected to analyse the seized digital evidence to establish the full extent of the suspected criminal activities and identify possible additional links to local and international networks.

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