Global Cybercrime Hub LeakBase Taken Down in Massive 14-Country Police Operation

International law enforcement agencies have dismantled one of the internet's largest cybercrime marketplaces after a coordinated operation spanning 14 countries targeted the notorious hacking forum known as LeakBase.

Authorities announced the takedown following a sweeping crackdown led by the US Department of Justice and supported by international partners, including Europol and multiple national police forces. The operation struck a significant blow against a major online hub used by cybercriminals to trade stolen personal data, financial records, and hacking tools.

Massive Global Crackdown Targets LeakBase

According to the US Justice Department, investigators seized the LeakBase database and two of the domains used to operate the forum as part of coordinated actions carried out on March 3 and 4. The effort involved law enforcement agents across 14 countries, working together through an operation hosted by Europol in The Hague.

LeakBase had emerged as one of the world's largest cybercrime forums, with more than 142,000 registered members exchanging information about stolen databases, hacking services, and illicit digital tools.

Officials said the platform operated openly on the web and served as a marketplace for cybercriminals to buy and sell vast quantities of compromised information. The forum reportedly contained extensive archives of hacked databases linked to major breaches involving both individuals and corporations.

Authorities replaced the forum's pages with official seizure banners, signalling that the platform had been taken offline by law enforcement.

Stolen Data, Banking Details, and Credentials Sold Online

Investigators say LeakBase facilitated the trade of highly sensitive information, including credit and debit card numbers, bank account details, passwords, and login credentials.

These records often originated from large-scale cyberattacks or data breaches, enabling criminals to carry out identity theft, fraud, and further cyber intrusions.

In a statement announcing the crackdown, US officials warned that the forum played a key role in enabling digital crime worldwide.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said the operation disrupted a major online infrastructure for cybercrime, stating that the takedown targeted 'a major international platform that cybercriminals use to obtain and profit from the theft of sensitive personal, banking, and account credentials.'

Investigators also confirmed that the platform stored enormous volumes of compromised information, including account credentials linked to hundreds of millions of online users.

Arrests, Raids, and Investigations Across Multiple Countries

Authorities conducted search warrants, arrests, and interviews in several countries during the operation, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Portugal, and Australia.

The crackdown targeted both the operators of the forum and its most active users, who allegedly played roles in distributing stolen data and facilitating cybercrime networks.

Law enforcement officials seized large quantities of digital evidence, including private messages, account records, and IP address logs belonging to forum members.

FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Brett Leatherman said investigators had taken control of key information tied to the forum's operations.

'The FBI, Europol, and law enforcement agencies from around the world executed a takedown of LeakBase, one of the largest online cybercriminal platforms, seizing users' accounts, posts, credit details, private messages, and IP logs for evidentiary purposes,' he said.

'The FBI will continue to defend the homeland by dismantling the key services that cybercriminals use to facilitate their attacks.'

Part of Wider Effort to Combat Global Cybercrime

The dismantling of LeakBase represents the latest international effort to crack down on major online cybercrime platforms.

Officials say the forum functioned as a central meeting point where hackers exchanged leaked databases, malware tools, and hacking guides, effectively supporting a global ecosystem of digital crime.

Europol played a key role in coordinating intelligence sharing among international agencies and analysing data recovered from the seized servers.

Investigators will now examine the trove of digital evidence obtained during the operation to identify additional suspects and victims. The information may also lead to new criminal investigations related to data breaches and cyberattacks.

Authorities say the crackdown demonstrates how international cooperation is increasingly crucial in tackling cybercrime networks that operate across borders and jurisdictions.

As cybercriminals continue to exploit global connectivity and digital vulnerabilities, officials say joint operations like the LeakBase takedown will remain a key strategy in disrupting the infrastructure that enables online crime.