sting operation
noun phrase

- a trap set up by the police to entice a person to commit a crime and thereby produce evidence

- in law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person attempting to commit a crime

- a complicated confidence game planned and executed with great care (especially an operation implemented by undercover agents to apprehend criminals)

Collins Dictionary, Wikipedia, Vocabulary Com

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The term “sting operation” originated in American English and became widely used in law enforcement and intelligence circles in the 20th century. The word “sting” in this context metaphorically refers to the way an undercover operation “stings” or traps a criminal—much like an insect sting is sudden and painful.

The phrase gained mainstream popularity after the 1973 film The Sting, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. The movie depicted a complex con aimed at swindling a corrupt businessman, reinforcing the idea of a deceptive setup designed to catch someone in illegal activity.

Though the term originally referred to police and FBI operations involving undercover agents, it has since expanded to include journalistic investigations, corporate probes, and intelligence missions aimed at exposing wrongdoing through deception. Today, “sting operation” is a global term used in crime-fighting and media exposés alike.

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RECENT HIGH-PROFILE STING OPERATIONS

1. ANOM Global Sting Operation (2024)

Law enforcement agencies from the U.S., EU, and Australia created a fake encrypted messaging app, ANOM, to infiltrate criminal networks. Over 800 arrests were made globally, targeting drug rings, arms dealers, and organized crime. The operation seized eight tons of cocaine, 22 tons of marijuana, and $48 million in cash.

2. Southern California Predator Sting (2024)

A group of 20 teenagers in Temecula, California, orchestrated a sting to expose a suspected child predator. They filmed the suspect and coordinated with police, leading to his arrest on multiple felony charges.

3. Scottsdale Human Trafficking Sting (2025)

Arizona law enforcement arrested 202 individuals in a large-scale operation targeting sex trafficking and drug-related crimes. Notable figures, including a high school coach, were implicated—showcasing the widespread nature of exploitation.

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SYNONYMS

ambush, bait and bust, bait and hook, bait job (operation, setup, trap), bait-and-switch, being set up, birdlime, bust, capture mission, catfishing (op), caught in the act (red-handed), covert action (bust, operation), decoy bust (mission, op, operation, setup, tactic), entrapment, false flag (operation), fishhook operation, flytrap, frame job, frame-up, gotcha, honey pot, honey trap, honeypot operation, honeytrap, inside job, lure and bust, lure-and-catch, mousetrap, net, netting op, planned takedown, police setup (trap), pop-up bust, set up, setup, snare job, snatch operation, spiderweb tactic, STING OPERATION, sucker trap, sweep, takedown, undercover bust (job, op, operation, setup, sting)

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