The police arrested 270 suspects after an international law enforcement action, named ‘Operation Rapter’, which targeted dark web vendors and customers from ten countries.
National authorities in Europe, South America, Asia and the United States have also confiscated more than € 184 million ($ 207m) in cash and cryptocurrency, more than 2 tonnes of drugs (including amphetamine, cocaine, ketamine, opioids and cannabis) and have seized more than 180 firearms.
“A global law enforcement operation coordinated by Europeol has given a major blow to criminal underground, with 270 dark web vendors and buyers arrest in ten countries,” Europeol said On Thursday.
“Known as Operation Repters, this international sweep has destroyed smuggling of smuggling in drugs, weapons and fake goods, sending a clear signal to criminals hidden behind the illusion of oblivion.”
The law enforcement identified suspects (several associated with thousands of sales on illegal platforms), which used intelligence information collected after several dark web marketplaces, including Nemasis, Tor 2 Door, Bohemia and Kingdom Market.
Most of the arrested suspects were arrested in the United States (130), Germany (42), the United Kingdom (37), France (29), and South Korea (19), while 13 others were detained in the Netherlands, Austria, Brazil, Spain and Switzerland.
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“Operation Repters suggest that the dark web law is not beyond the reach of law enforcement,” said Esileris, head of Europeol’s European Cyber Crime Center.
“Through close cooperation and intelligence sharing, officials of the four continents identified and arrested the suspects, sent a clear message to those who think they can hide in the shadow. Europeol will continue working with our partners so that the Internet can be secured for all.”
Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement of US Justice Department (JCODE) Team and European Cyber Crime Center (EC3) Still analyzing evidence Other suspects associated with dark web crime were collected in the previous operation to detect and catch them.
The joint action follows the operation sector in 2023, causing the arrest of 288 other dark web vendors and buyers and in cash and cryptocurrency € 50.8 million ($ 55.9m).
In 2020, another international sting targeted the “District” to dark web vendors and led 179 arrests, while Operation Dark Hunore resulted in 150 more high-trunk dark vendors busted.
In April 2022, German police and American officials closed Hydra, the world’s largest dark web marketplace, dedicated to drugs and money laundering, with more than 19,000 vendor accounts that were serving more than 17 million customers worldwide.
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