Montenegro has officially extradited an Iranian-Turkish dual national to the United States to face legal proceedings regarding alleged cyberattacks that targeted more than 150 American universities. Authorities in the Balkan nation stated on Thursday that the operation resulted in an estimated $3.4 billion in damage.
The individual, identified as 40-year-old Amir Barati, was initially taken into custody in June. His arrest took place in the coastal town of Kotor, carried out by local police in coordination with Montenegro’s Interpol office following a formal request from U.S. authorities, including the FBI.
Montenegrin police have classified Barati as a high-profile figure linked to both cybercrime and organized crime activities. He is currently facing multiple charges in New York, which include identity theft, hacking, and conspiracy to commit computer fraud.
According to the police allegations, Barati began executing large-scale cyberattacks against U.S. infrastructure as early as 2013 while collaborating with an Iran-based entity. Investigators claim that the data stolen during these breaches, along with access to compromised university accounts, were utilized to support the interests of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian organizations, including universities.
The successful extradition and prior arrest were the direct outcomes of a collaborative exchange of operational and intelligence information between law enforcement agencies in Montenegro and the United States.
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