Montenegro arrests Iranian-Turkish suspect wanted by US over major hacking case
Montenegrin police have arrested an Iranian-Turkish national wanted by the United States over alleged cyberattacks that authorities say caused more than $3.4 billion in damage. The suspect, identified only as A.B., was detained in the coastal town of Kotor on Thursday. The arrest was carried out in an operation involving the FBI, according to a police statement.
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Police said the 39-year-old is wanted by a court in New York on charges including computer fraud, hacking, identity theft and organised crime. Authorities allege that from 2013 onwards he carried out what they described as massive hacking attacks on US infrastructure, including more than 150 universities. They said stolen data and compromised university accounts were used for the benefit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian beneficiaries, including universities.
The suspect is due to appear before a court in Podgorica, where judges will decide on the US extradition request. The case places Montenegro in the middle of a major cross-border cybercrime investigation with implications for international law enforcement cooperation. It also highlights the scale of alleged damage linked to attacks on academic and infrastructure targets, which can have long-running financial and security consequences.
The arrest comes against the backdrop of a wider US effort to pursue alleged cyber actors linked to attacks on universities and other organisations. In 2018, the US Department of Justice issued an indictment accusing nine Iranian nationals of hacking universities and other organisations to steal academic research and data. US authorities have not said whether the latest arrest is connected to that case, leaving open questions about how the new detention fits into the broader investigation.
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Montenegro has not said when the extradition hearing will take place, and it remains unclear how long the suspect will remain in custody while the court considers the request. It is also not known whether the defendant will contest extradition or what evidence will be presented in Podgorica. The case is likely to be watched closely for signs of further cooperation between Montenegrin and US authorities in cybercrime enforcement.
For now, the key next step is the court process in the Montenegrin capital. That hearing will determine whether the suspect can be transferred to the United States to face the charges. Further official statements may clarify whether the arrest is linked to earlier US indictments or to a separate investigation.
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