Authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia filed charges against the alleged administrator of OLVX, a cybercrime marketplace that sold stolen personal data, credentials and malicious tools for attacks since 2023.
The 20-year-old citizen of North Macedonia, who officials identified as “E.A.” in a news release, is accused of commiting computer fraud, misuse of personal data, and production and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
The arrest comes six months after authorities dismantled the cybercrime platform, arrested the alleged administrator and searched their home in April, according to European authorities. Officials at that time said the cybercrime platform’s sales exceeded $500,000 and a seized server contained a database with more than 2,600 customer accounts.
The FBI provided intelligence to North Macedonian authorities and aided in the joint investigation into OLVX. “The existence of this marketplace directly endangered the digital security of thousands of American citizens who rely on the integrity of accounts they use,” the FBI Cyber Division said in a LinkedIn post Wednesday.
“This disruption marks the first-ever cyber operation coordinated between the FBI and North Macedonia, and reflects the FBI’s commitment to working with partners around the world to protect the American people in cyberspace,” the agency added.