FBI and European Law Enforcement Dismantle Major Cybercrime Forum Leakbase

Operation Leak successfully dismantles the Leakbase dark web forum, leading to 13 arrests and the seizure of a massive member database.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 10:42 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was provided by SC Media UK.

The dark web forum Leakbase, which boasted more than 142,000 members and was considered one of the most advanced platforms of its kind, has been dismantled by international authorities. This action was part of "Operation Leak," a joint initiative involving the FBI and various European police agencies that successfully seized the platform's hosting infrastructure and its complete database of user information.

The impact of the operation has been immediate and widespread, as law enforcement officials confirmed the arrest of 13 individuals and the interviewing of 33 additional suspects connected to the forum. FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Brett Leatherman stated that the operation aligns with the United States' national cyber strategy, which focuses on shifting the burden of risk directly onto cyber adversaries. Authorities expect that the evidence seized and the individuals arrested will provide critical information to help investigators move "upstream" against more significant cyber actors.

Leakbase operated as a subscription-based marketplace for cybercriminals, facilitating the trade of stolen data and hacking tools. Despite the perceived anonymity of the dark web, Assistant Director Leatherman issued a warning to other cyber actors, noting that law enforcement possesses tremendous capability to de-anonymize users and will continue to follow them across different platforms.