Europol’s Project Compass Dismantles The Com Cybercrime Network, 30 Arrested Across 28 Countries
scsecMarch 3, 20261 Mins read 
Europol’s ‘Project Compass’ Targets The Com Network, 30 Arrested
A yearlong international law enforcement operation led by Europol has resulted in 30 arrests and linked 179 suspects to “The Com,” a decentralized cybercrime collective accused of targeting children and teenagers online.
The crackdown, dubbed Project Compass, was launched in January 2025 and coordinated by Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre. Authorities from 28 countries participated in the joint effort to dismantle the group’s online infrastructure and identify victims.
Investigators confirmed that 62 victims were identified during the operation, with four individuals directly safeguarded from ongoing harm.
What Is “The Com”?
Short for “Community,” The Com is described by Europol as a loose-knit, English-speaking extremist cybercrime network operating across social media platforms, online gaming environments, messaging apps, and even music streaming services.
The group is structured into multiple subgroups, each focused on different criminal activities:
- Offline Com – Encourages property damage, violence, and acts of terrorism.
- Cyber Com – Conducts network intrusions and ransomware attacks.
- (S)extortion Com – Coerces minors into producing explicit material and promotes self-harm or suicide as part of extortion schemes.
A particularly notorious faction known as “764”, which emerged in 2021, has been linked to grooming minors into creating explicit content that is later used for blackmail or shared within the network.
In April 2025, two alleged leaders of 764 — 21-year-old Leonidas Varagiannis and 20-year-old Prasan Nepal — were arrested and charged with operating an international child exploitation ring. They are reportedly facing life sentences.
Broader Criminal Links
The Com has also been connected to high-profile ransomware incidents, including attacks against:
- Marks & Spencer
- Co-op
- Harrods
Additionally, the group has been linked to breaches involving Las Vegas casinos in 2023.
Authorities believe the network deliberately infiltrates digital spaces where young people feel safe, using manipulation and extremist messaging to recruit and exploit them.
International Cooperation Key to Disruption
Anna Sjöberg, head of Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre, emphasized that Project Compass was designed to intervene early, protect victims, and disrupt networks exploiting vulnerable youth.
She noted that no single country can effectively counter such decentralized online threats alone, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in closing the gaps cybercriminal networks rely on.
While the arrests mark a significant milestone, authorities continue investigating additional suspects and online communities associated with The Com.
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This is a major win for international law enforcement. Project Compass shows how coordinated global efforts can protect vulnerable youth from online exploitation while disrupting dangerous cybercriminal networks. It also highlights the ongoing need for vigilance across social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps.