Phuket authorities, in collaboration with cybercrime and immigration police, have arrested four alleged European hackers for deploying ransomware on the networks of 17 Swiss firms.
The suspects are accused of causing significant financial damage and stealing approximately $16 million in Bitcoin from 1,000 victims worldwide.
Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiewphan, commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, announced the arrests at a press conference, stating that the operation was carried out in cooperation with Phuket and immigration police.
The suspects, whose identities have not been disclosed, were wanted by both the United States government and the Swiss Confederation for their alleged cybercrime.
“Trairong also mentioned that the Swiss Confederation had requested the Thai government to extradite the four suspects to face charges in Switzerland.”
According to authorities, the hackers used Phobos ransomware to infiltrate and encrypt data on the computer networks of 17 Swiss companies between April 30, 2023, and October 26, 2024.
The malware effectively blocked companies from accessing their data unless they paid a ransom to obtain the decryption key.
During the arrests, police seized over 40 pieces of evidence, including laptop computers, smartphones, and digital wallets containing illicitly obtained assets. Swiss authorities have formally requested the extradition of the four suspects so they can face charges in Switzerland.
The arrest underscores the growing threat of ransomware attacks on businesses worldwide and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat cybercrime on an international scale.
Find this Story Interesting! Follow us on Google News, LinkedIn, and X to Get More Instant Updates
