South Korea has reached out to Interpol for assistance in apprehending two foreign nationals believed to be leaders of a cyber-criminal organization. These individuals are suspected of orchestrating various cyber-attacks and a significant extortion scheme that affected victims in South Korea and the United States.
The South Korean authorities have formally requested Interpol to issue a “Red Notice” for the suspects, aiming to bring them to justice in South Korea. Red notices are powerful tools utilized by Interpol to locate and apprehend individuals wanted by legal jurisdictions or international tribunals for extradition or legal proceedings.
While the identities of the two suspects have not been disclosed, reports indicate that one of them is a Ukrainian national who was recently apprehended by Ukrainian law enforcement along with five others in connection with the Clop ransomware gang. This arrest was a result of a collaborative effort between South Korean and U.S. authorities.
The detained individuals are accused of laundering virtual currency obtained through ransomware attacks, converting it into cash. South Korean authorities have charged three of the detainees with offenses related to communication networks, information protection, extortion, and money laundering.
According to Choi Jongsang, head of the South Korean police’s cybercrime investigation division, the two suspects played pivotal roles in cyber-attacks conducted in 2019. These attacks involved the use of ransomware against a university and several companies in South Korea, resulting in a Bitcoin ransom payment of $3.8 million.
Furthermore, Ukrainian police stated that the same criminal gang targeted institutions such as Stanford Medical School and the University of Maryland in the U.S. through similar ransomware attacks.
The collaboration between South Korea and Interpol underscores the global nature of cybercrime and the importance of international cooperation in combating such threats. By seeking the help of international law enforcement agencies, South Korea is demonstrating its commitment to holding cyber-criminals accountable for their actions.