A large-scale international law enforcement effort has reportedly led to multiple arrests as authorities moved to shut down a well-known underground data leak marketplace.
Europol revealed details of a coordinated operation that successfully dismantled LeakBase, a platform it described as “established itself as a central hub in the cybercrime ecosystem”.
Launched in 2021, the forum rapidly grew in scale, amassing over 142,000 registered members within four years. During this time, users created approximately 32,000 posts and exchanged more than 215,000 private messages. Operating openly on the web and primarily in English, the platform enabled users to trade and distribute stolen or compromised data sourced from individuals and organizations worldwide. Notably, content related to Russia was prohibited, with the forum restricting any sale or publication of such data.
On March 3, 2026, authorities from multiple countries carried out nearly 100 coordinated actions, including house searches, “knock-and-talk” interventions, and arrests as part of the crackdown.
While officials did not disclose the exact number of individuals detained, their locations, or specific charges, they confirmed that enforcement measures were taken against 37 of the forum’s most active participants.
The following day, authorities seized control of the forum’s domain and replaced its content. Investigators also obtained the platform’s database, which is now being analyzed to identify users. Officials have reportedly already “engaged directly with several suspects”.
“This operation shows that no corner of the internet is beyond the reach of international law enforcement. What began as a shadowy forum for stolen data has now been dismantled, and those who believed they could hide behind anonymity are being identified and held accountable,” said Edvardas Šileris, Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre.
“This is a clear message to cybercriminals everywhere: if you traffic in other people’s stolen information, law enforcement will find you and bring you to justice.”