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thrive

Member

Registered: 2023-01-04

Posts: 2,575

In a big marketplace seizure, 288 dark web sellers were apprehended.

Police seized the illegal "Monopoly Market" dark web marketplace and detained 288 suspects involved in buying or selling drugs on the dark web as part of an operation coordinated by Europol and involving nine countries. 850 kg of drugs, 53 point 4 million dollars worth of virtual currency, more than 50 point 8 million euros, 117 weapons, and more were all seized. Along with more than 258 kg of amphetamines, 43 kg of cocaine, 43 kg of MDMA, and more than 10 kg of ecstasy and LSD pills were also seized.
This operation, known by the code name SpecTor, was made up of a number of independent complementary operations in Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Switzerland.

investigations using intelligence packages as a foundation.
German law enforcement, who were successful in seizing the criminal infrastructure of the market in December 2021, provided Europol with mountains of evidence on which to base its intelligence packages. These target packages, which were developed by cross-matching and analyzing the data and evidence gathered, provided the framework for numerous national investigations. The vendors who were detained as a result of the police action against the Monopoly Market were also involved in other illegal markets, which made it harder for people to buy and sell drugs and other illegal items on the dark web. As a result, 288 sellers and purchasers involved in tens of thousands of sales of illegal goods were detained throughout Europe, the US, and Brazil. Some of these suspects were regarded by Europol as high-value targets.

United States (153), United Kingdom (55), Germany (52), Netherlands (10), Austria (9), France (5), Switzerland (2), Poland (1), and Brazil (1) all saw arrests. Numerous inquiries are still being conducted to determine who else is operating dark web accounts. Numerous customers around the world now face the possibility of prosecution as a result of law enforcement officials access to the vendors' extensive buyer lists.