Moldovan authorities have apprehended a 45-year-old foreign citizen suspected of orchestrating a string of devastating ransomware attacks against Dutch companies back in 2021.
The arrest occurred last week following a targeted search of the suspect’s residence in Moldova.
While officials have withheld the suspect’s identity, they confirmed he is internationally wanted for a host of cybercrime-related offenses, including blackmail and money laundering.
The operation culminated in the seizure of a substantial amount of assets, including over 84,000 euros in cash, an electronic wallet, two laptops, a mobile phone, a tablet, six bank cards, and various data storage devices, as detailed in a police statement released on Monday.
Among the attacks the detained individual is allegedly responsible for is the high-profile incident targeting the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
This attack, attributed by the organization to the notorious DoppelPaymer ransomware, inflicted an estimated 4.5 million euros in damages, significantly disrupting the NWO’s critical research activities.
The suspect is currently in custody in Moldova as prosecutors initiate the complex extradition procedures to bring him to justice in the Netherlands.
This arrest demonstrates a wider concerted effort to combat cybercrime across the European continent.
