Based on FBI Intel, Administrators of Illegal Online Market Arrested in Tetovo

In a significant cross-border law enforcement success, North Macedonia's police have apprehended two individuals suspected of administering the illicit online marketplace known as OLVX. This operation, spearheaded by the Ministry of Interior's Sector for Computer Crime, was executed on the basis of crucial intelligence provided by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The OLVX platform, which had been operating since July 2023 across multiple internet domains, specialized in the trade of compromised personal data. Authorities revealed that the marketplace boasted a substantial database, including over 2,600 registered client accounts and more than 1,500 seller accounts. The total value of goods transacted on the platform reportedly exceeded $500,000, highlighting the scale of its illicit operations.

The arrests were made in the village of Velika Rečica near Tetovo, targeting two Macedonian citizens, identified as A.E. (20) and A.I. (23). During the search, conducted under a court order from the Basic Court of Tetovo, the suspects were found actively engaged in criminal activities. Law enforcement seized desktop computers, laptops, and mobile phones, which will undergo forensic analysis as evidence in the ongoing criminal proceedings. This joint effort underscores the global nature of cybercrime and the importance of international cooperation between agencies like the FBI and North Macedonian authorities to dismantle such illegal networks.