MALAGA – In a significant operation coordinated by law enforcement agencies across multiple countries, the Guardia Civil has arrested the leader of an international cybercrime network in Estepona.
The operation, codenamed ‘Seacatch-Weighhouse,’ involved collaboration with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), the US Secret Service, and law enforcement agencies from Ukraine, Poland, Portugal, and Singapore.
The arrest and allegations
The arrested individual is a 38-year-old man originally from Belarus. He is accused of leading the notorious Ransom Cartel, a cybercrime organisation involved in the creation and distribution of various ransomware programs. Among the malware attributed to this group are CryptXXX and Cryptowall. Both are well-known in the cybersecurity world. The suspect’s activities in the cybercrime sphere have been under scrutiny since at least 2013.
The operation in Spain marks a significant victory in the fight against ransomware. This is a type of malware that encrypts victims’ data and demands a ransom for its release. The Ransom Cartel’s activities reportedly generated up to $34 million annually.
Widespread impact of the cybercrime network
The network’s reach extended beyond ransomware. The group also disseminated the Angler Exploit Kit, a tool used to install malware on victims’ devices or redirect them to fraudulent websites. One of their most lucrative malware programs, Reveton, was designed to lock victims’ computers and display a fake notification purporting to be from the police, demanding payment to unlock the system.
Ongoing investigations
In addition to the primary suspect, authorities are also investigating a second individual, a 28-year-old man, for his involvement in the Angler Exploit Kit operations. The international cooperation that led to these arrests highlights the global nature of cybercrime and the importance of cross-border collaboration in tackling such threats.