Dutch authorities have arrested 24-year-old Pepijn van der S. in Amsterdam on suspicion of participating in the ShinyHunters hacking collective and soliciting two murders abroad, according to reports from US. Elite intervention police detained the suspect in his Rivierenbuurt apartment using heavy tactical units, while investigators recovered laptop files detailing the alleged foreign contract killings. The arrest follows a prior four-year prison sentence for enterprise data theft and cryptocurrency laundering.
Arrest in Amsterdam Over ShinyHunters Allegations
Police arrested Van der S. in his Amsterdam home during an operation involving the Dienst Speciale Interventies, a specialized high-threat intervention unit, as reported by US. Investigators suspect the 24-year-old of operating within ShinyHunters, a cybercriminal collective linked to a February data breach at telecom provider Odido that compromised millions of records. While the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation views Van der S. as a potential leader of the hacking group, Dutch police have stated the current arrest is separate from the Odido network intrusion and remains under active investigation.
Laptop Discovery Leads to Murder Solicitation Inquiries
During the search of the suspect’s residence, officers recovered digital files on a laptop containing specific information regarding two planned murders outside the Netherlands. Prosecutors are investigating whether Van der S. acted as the commissioner behind the foreign plot. Following a court appearance, a judge extended his pre-trial detention by 90 days under full restrictions, permitting contact solely with his legal counsel.
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Previous Conviction and Cybersecurity Employment
Van der S. previously served a four-year prison sentence handed down in 2023 for extortion, corporate data theft, and crypto money laundering, as documented by US. Defense attorney Tony Boersma noted in a 2024 podcast appearance that the defendant faced personal hardships during his youth. Following his release from prison earlier this year, Neo Security hired Van der S. for an ethical hacking role. Benjamin Korper, owner of Neo Security, expressed profound surprise at the allegations, telling reporters that an external audit found no evidence of client data compromise during his employment.
Contrasting Legal Cases and Outlet Coverage
While Dutch outlets report that the murder solicitation investigation stems directly from material found on the seized laptop, representatives of ShinyHunters have publicly denied any association with the Dutch national. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies continue to weigh the FBI’s assessment of his leadership status against the ongoing forensic examination of his digital devices.
Details of the arrest of Pepijn van der S
- Why was Pepijn van der S. arrested? Police arrested him on suspicion of participating in ShinyHunters and soliciting two murders abroad, based on evidence retrieved from his laptop.
- Is he connected to the Odido data breach? Police confirmed that while he is investigated regarding ShinyHunters, he was not arrested specifically for the Odido hack.
- What was his prior criminal record? He was convicted in 2023 to four years in prison for extortion, corporate data theft, and laundering large sums of cryptocurrency.
- Where is the suspect currently held? He is currently being held in pre-trial detention under full restrictions, with his custody extended by 90 days.
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