A Kosovo national accused of running a major underground cybercrime marketplace has been extradited to the United States and now faces federal charges. Liridon Masurica, 33, of Gjilan, Kosovo—known online by the alias @blackdb—appeared in a Tampa federal court on May 12 after his arrest and extradition earlier this month.
Masurica was arrested by Kosovo authorities on December 12, 2024, following an indictment in the U.S. that charged him with one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and five counts of using unauthorized access devices. He was extradited to the U.S. on May 9 and is being held in custody pending trial.
According to prosecutors, Masurica served as the lead administrator of BlackDB.cc, a dark web marketplace that operated from 2018 until its recent shutdown. The platform allegedly facilitated the sale of stolen credentials, credit card data, server logins, and personally identifiable information (PII)—resources frequently used for tax fraud, credit card scams, and identity theft.
55-Year Sentence Possible as US, Kosovo Authorities Target Cybercrime Rings
The investigation was led by the FBI with assistance from Kosovo Police’s Cybercrime Investigation Directorate. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that BlackDB.cc has since been dismantled, but did not disclose when or how the takedown occurred.
If convicted on all charges, Masurica could face up to 55 years in federal prison.
His arrest follows a broader crackdown on Balkan-based cybercrime operations. In December 2024, Kosovo authorities also apprehended Ardit Kutleshi and Jetmir Kutleshi, suspected operators of another dark web marketplace, Rydox, known for selling stolen personal information and fraud-enabling tools. Both were extradited to the U.S. in early April. A third suspected Rydox administrator, Shpend Sokoli, was arrested in Albania the same month.
The arrests and extraditions underscore growing international cooperation in the fight against cybercrime, particularly in the Balkan region, which has become a hub for threat actors targeting financial and identity data.
