Hacker (illustrative)
Hacker (illustrative)Thinkstock

A total of 70 people from 18 different countries worldwide were arrested Wednesday in a joint operation between cyber police and the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

The detainees are accused of running a large-scale forum for the transfer of credit card information and other identification-related data between hackers. 

The hackers and cyber criminals operated the underground forum using a high-level of encryption. It is estimated that loads of information for the purpose of identity theft was shared. 

Three of those apprehended in the operation are citizens of Israel; two youths, aged 19 and 20, are residents of central Israel, while the third suspect is from Umm al-Fahm in northern Israel. 

The three Israeli suspects were remanded into custody until Sunday.