Russian Hacking Suspect Wanted by the FBI Arrested on Thai Resort Island

Police in Phuket arrested a Russian hacking suspect wanted by the FBI after a tip that the “world-class hacker” was travelling to Thailand, Thai Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau officials said. The 35-year-old entered Thailand on 30 October at Phuket Airport and was taken into custody earlier this month at his hotel, with his case now held for possible extradition, authorities added.

The suspect’s name has not been released publicly, but according to Russia Today he is Denis Obrezko, a native of Stavropol, and his relatives said they planned to fight extradition. In an e‑mail, the U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment on extradition or provide further details, while the U.S. State Department and American officials in Thailand also would not comment.

Russia’s consul general in Phuket told Tass that the consulate had received notification of the arrest on charges of committing an information technology crime, and embassy staff have since visited the detainee in Bangkok. Thai investigators said the FBI tip led to the arrest in Phuket on an international warrant, and police later seized laptops, mobile phones and digital wallets during the hotel raid. The formal extradition request has been made, but the timeline remains unclear.