In a globally coordinated effort named DisrupTor, police forces across the United States and Europe have executed a series of raids on dark web marketplaces, resulting in the arrest of 179 individuals and the confiscation of over $6.5 million in cash and virtual currencies, along with 500kg of drugs and 64 firearms. Europol declared an end to the “golden age” of these underground markets, emphasizing that the hidden internet is no longer concealed.
Headed by the Department of Justice and Europol, Operation DisrupTor targeted criminals involved in tens of thousands of sales of illicit goods and services across the US and Europe. The seized drugs include fentanyl, oxycodone, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and MDMA.
Of the 179 arrests, 119 were in the US, two in Canada, 42 in Germany, eight in the Netherlands, four in the UK, three in Austria, and one in Sweden. The operation builds on previous successes, such as the takedown of the Wall Street market last year, marking another significant blow to organized cybercrime.
Edvardas Sileris, the head of Europol’s cyber-crime center, asserted that collaboration among law enforcement agencies is crucial, sending a strong message to those engaged in illicit activities on the dark web. FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the importance of the operation, especially in the context of the spike in opioid-related overdose deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the potential short-term impact on dark web marketplaces, analysts caution that the allure of purchasing illegal items online means there will always be a market. Recent incidents, including the abrupt closure of Empire marketplace due to an alleged “exit scam,” have already raised doubts about the reliability of such platforms. While law enforcement efforts may disrupt existing marketplaces, criminals may adapt by enhancing security and anonymity or establishing new marketplaces, presenting an ongoing challenge for authorities.