German cops add Black Basta boss to EU most-wanted list

Steven

German cops add Black Basta boss to EU most-wanted list

Summary

German federal police (BKA) have placed Oleg Evgenievich Nefekov, a 35‑year‑old Russian national accused of founding and running the Black Basta ransomware operation, on the EU most‑wanted list. Authorities allege he acted as the group’s managing director — choosing targets, recruiting affiliates, negotiating ransoms and laundering proceeds. Black Basta rose after LockBit’s collapse and is credited with about 700 attacks worldwide; researchers estimated extortion payments topped $100m by the end of 2023.

Nefekov reportedly escaped Armenian custody in 2024 and is believed to be hiding in Russia. The BKA is seeking anonymous tips on his location, travel plans and online accounts, and asks the public not to submit information derived from past leaks.

Key Points

  • Nefekov has been added to Germany’s most‑wanted list and appears on the EU most‑wanted portal.
  • The BKA accuses him of being Black Basta’s founder and ringleader, responsible for directing operations and handling ransom proceeds.
  • Black Basta emerged in 2022, filled the void after LockBit, and is linked to roughly 700 victim organisations worldwide.
  • Researchers estimate the group extracted over $100m in extortion payments by end of 2023.
  • Nefekov reportedly escaped Armenian custody in 2024 and is believed to be residing somewhere in Russia.
  • Authorities request tips about his whereabouts, travel plans or accounts and promise anonymity; they explicitly do not want submissions about prior internal leaks.
  • Analysis of leaked chats linked Nefekov to several online aliases (tramp, tr, gg, AA, kurva, Washingt0n, S.Jimmi).

Why should I read this?

Want the short version? The alleged boss of one of the biggest ransomware gangs is officially wanted at EU level — that’s a big deal for anyone tracking cyber threats. If you work in security, risk or incident response, this flags continued leadership targeting and the unresolved problem of safe havens. It’s a quick update that tells you who’s likely still running things behind the scenes and why investigators are turning up the heat.

Author note

Punchy: This is high‑importance news for the security community — a named, wanted ringleader and links to state evasion make it a must‑follow story. Read the detail if threat actor tracking or extortion trends matter to you.

Source

Source: https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2026/01/16/black_basta_boss_wanted/