From fake weddings to free flights, elaborate sting operations have ensnared suspects around the world

An international sting that tricked alleged criminals into using an FBI-monitored messaging app has led to the arrests of more than 800 people internationally and is being hailed as one of the largest operations of its kind.

FBI-controlled Anom app ensnares scores of alleged criminals in global police sting

It is not the first time that law enforcement has come up with an elaborate scheme to lure suspects or dupe them into admitting wrongdoing. Around the world, suspects, ranging from Somali pirates to Chinese counterfeiters, have fallen victim to carefully-plotted sting operations that often take years of planning. Here are a few notable examples.