Montenegro police arrest Iranian hacker wanted by US

An Iranian-Turkish national wanted by the United States on charges related to a massive, years-long cyber campaign has been arrested in Montenegro following a joint operation with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Montenegrin police announced the arrest on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

The 39-year-old suspect, identified in official statements only by his initials A.B., was detained in the Adriatic coastal town of Kotor. He is wanted by the Southern District Court of New York on charges including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, hacking, identity theft, and organized crime.

Authorities allege that from 2013 onward, the individual carried out what they described as "massive hacking attacks" targeting U.S. infrastructure, with a specific focus on more than 150 American universities. The estimated financial damage from these operations exceeds $3.4 billion, according to police statements.

The investigation claims the stolen data and access to compromised university accounts were used for the benefit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other Iranian entities, including universities. The arrest marks a significant development in a long-running international...