News report | 12-01-2026 | 16:06
On Sunday evening, a 33-year-old Dutch national was arrested at Schiphol Airport who was internationally wanted. The National Public Prosecutors Office (LP) suspects him and two of his companies of enabling criminals to test developed malware for detectability by antivirus programs.
In a coordinated, international operation with the United States and Finland, the High Tech Crime Team (THTC) of the National Police Units Investigation and Intervention Unit dismantled a key service for malware developers in May 2025. Information from that investigation led to a separate investigation into the man and his companies in Amsterdam who were arrested on Sunday.
Important Link
The service offered by the suspect enabled cybercriminals to refine the concealment of malicious files each time. It is crucial for a cybercriminal that as few antivirus programs as possible detect the malicious activity to maximize the chance of causing victims. In this way, the man enabled criminals to cause as many victims as possible with the malware they developed. The man and his companies were thus an important link in committing cybercrime.
Internationally Wanted
During the investigation, it became clear that the man had deregistered in the Netherlands and moved to the United Arab Emirates. The suspect had been internationally wanted for some time when he was arrested on Sunday by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee at Schiphol. Data carriers were seized from the man. The THTC continues its investigation.