According to the indictment, financial transactions on Empire Market used cryptocurrency to conceal the nature of the transactions and the identities of Empire Market administrators, moderators, vendors, and buyers. The controlled substances sold by vendors on Empire Market included heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, opioids, and others. According to the indictment, unnamed customers, including one who lived in Northern Illinois, placed multiple orders for counterfeit money. At the time of seizure, there was a total of 17,000 listings on the website sold by 3,200 vendors. They were however American vendors and consumers, as well as distributors from China and Mexico. It did not host other black market listings such as those for firearms or prostitution.
In a press conference Tuesday morning, DEA acting administrator Timothy Shea specifically called out Arden McCann, allegedly known as RCQueen, DRXanax, and other aliases across numerous dark web markets. In stepped Empire Market which appeared in February 2018 (about 6-7 months after the demise of AlphaBay/Hansa) and soon became the leader of the Western darknet market ecosystem. During the investigation, law enforcement seized cryptocurrency valued at $75 million at the time of the seizures, as well as cash and precious metals. Vendors on Empire Market, according to the indictment, offered to sell various illicit goods and services, including controlled substances such as heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and LSD, as well as counterfeit currency and stolen credit card information, the indictment states. But with blockchain intelligence advancing and global partnerships strengthening, law enforcement is better positioned than ever to detect, disrupt, and dismantle these operations. Just as Incognito built on the playbook of its predecessors, future markets will learn from RapTor.
Administrator Of Darknet Narcotics Market Incognito Arrested
“Working through the JCODE initiative, IRS Criminal Investigation and our international partners led the largest and most impactful takedown to date — seizing over $200 million in assets, removing deadly drugs and weapons from circulation, and holding more than 270 individuals accountable. Led by Europol’s European Cyber Crime Centre Operation RapTOR united the FBI-led JCODE team — comprised of ICE HSI and law enforcement partners from the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia — to disrupt fentanyl and opioid trafficking, as well as sale of other illicit goods and services on the Darknet. The alleged administrators of the infamous Bohemia and Cannabia dark web marketplaces have been arrested after apparently shuttering the sites and trying to flee with their earnings. While DNM and fraud shop revenues declined in 2024 following years of concerted international law enforcement efforts, these platforms have managed to sustain their operations by adopting new tactics. In 2024, however, many vendors of reagents and precursors have turned to criminal forums to advertise their product offerings, or have delisted (at least publicly) chemicals related to fentanyl synthesis.
The EDTF’s mission is to disrupt, dismantle or render ineffective organizations involved in the laundering of proceeds of narcotics trafficking and other financial crimes. The EDTF encompasses a standalone Cyber Division as part of an effort to stay abreast of emerging criminal threats and in keeping with current and future investigative priorities. The EDTF is the premier money laundering task force in the nation and comprises more than 200 law enforcement personnel representing approximately 35 federal, state and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies. HSI New York leads and directs all operational and administrative activities of the El Dorado Task Force (EDTF). After transactions were completed using cryptocurrency, buyers could review and rate their purchases on multiple criteria, including “stealth.” Buyers could browse the available goods and services by category, including “Fraud,” “Drugs & Chemicals,” “Counterfeit Items,” and “Software & Malware,” among others.
How Boutique Darknet Markets Are Making Drug Busts Harder
Before these dark web marketplaces were shutdown, they sold a range of illegal products, from drugs to firearms. By tracing financial flows, analysing digital forensic evidence, and working closely with partners on the ground, authorities were able to deliver a decisive blow to one of the most prolific drug markets on the dark web. “With this takedown, law enforcement has taken out one of the dark web’s longest-running drug markets, cutting off a major supply line for some of the world’s most dangerous substances.
Dark Web Marketplace Owners Charged With Facilitating $430M In Illegal Goods Sales
Pavey and Hamilton are in U.S. law enforcement custody. The indictment charges Pavey and Hamilton with conspiring with each other and others to engage in drug trafficking, computer fraud, access device fraud, counterfeiting, and money laundering. “HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force Dark Web and Cryptocurrency investigators are equipped with the skills to identify money laundering, cybercrimes, and other illicit schemes and in turn prevent such offenses from impacting the safety and security of Americans. WASHINGTON – Ten defendants have been arrested – and 11 total are in custody – pursuant to a nine-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charging a former Olympic snowboarder… This operation was aided by non-operational supporting participation from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and U.S. Operation SpecTor was a collaborative initiative across JCODE members, including the Department of Justice, FBI, DEA, USPIS, HSI, IRS-CI, ATF, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Srinivasan and Ta used the “redlightlabs” darknet account to advertise and sell counterfeit M30 oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs. These leads allow U.S. and international law enforcement agencies to identify darknet drug vendors and buyers, resulting in a series of coordinated, but separate, law enforcement investigations, reflected in the statistics announced today. A sprawling law enforcement crackdown, dubbed Operation RapTor, zeroed in on illicit fentanyl and opioid sales across online black markets, leading to the arrest of 270 individuals worldwide. Nemesis had over 30,000 active users and 1,000 vendors and facilitated the sale of nearly $30 million worth of drugs around the world between 2021 and 2024, including to the United States.
Daily Debrief Newsletter
“Operation RapTor shows that the dark web is not beyond the reach of law enforcement,” said Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, Edvardas Šileris. “These predators who peddled poison on the dark web might have thought they are untouchable — hiding behind screens, pushing fentanyl, fueling overdoses, and cashing in on misery. “By cowardly hiding online, these traffickers have wreaked havoc across our country and directly fueled the fentanyl crisis and gun violence impacting our American communities and neighborhoods. Parsarad was also indicted by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Ohio on drug trafficking charges related to the illegal business he ran on the dark web. In furtherance of Operation RapTor and in its first action as a JCODE member agency, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) additionally sanctioned Iranian national Behrouz Parsarad for his role as the founder and operator of Nemesis Market following seizure of the market.
- Building on the successes of prior years’ operations, Operation RapTOR furthered global efforts to dismantle darknet marketplaces, resulting in the seizure of darknet infrastructure from Nemesis, Tor2Door, Bohemia, and Kingdom Markets.
- A screenshot of the marketplace shared by the DOJ in the statement showed cocaine available for bulk purchase from JoyInc on Drughub, a dark web site.
- Blockchain security researchers have identified another Telegram-based illicit marketplace called Xinbi Guarantee, which has already processed an estimated $8.4 billion in transactions.
- In August 2020 Empire suddenly exit-scammed with the darknet markets disappearance.
- This operation was about protecting innocent people from predatory criminals who profit from violence, addiction, and fear.
Bicoastal Drug Trafficking Operation Flew 22 Tons Of Cocaine Across Country, Prosecutors Say
It dominated Russian and Eastern European trade in drugs and stolen data. Its admins announced the shutdown as authorities FBI, Europol, others were exposing dozens of its vendors in a sting Operation SaboTor. This set the legal precedent that even Tor hidden markets are prosecutable. Hundreds of kilograms of drugs and millions in Bitcoin were recovered.
Wall Street Market 2016 2019 Exit Scam And Arrests
The scale of its operation puts it on a similar level to the dark web's previous marketplace monopolizers such as Dream and Silk Road. The marketplace had more than 600,000 users with a total transaction volume of at least €250 million ($289 million). In total, police seized 47 smartphones, 45 computers, as well as narcotics and other assets, which will be analyzed for further investigative leads. Its alleged administrator, a 30-year-old German national who has not yet been named, was cuffed by officers at his apartment in Barcelona, and "measures were taken in Germany and Sweden against one moderator and six of the marketplace's highest vendors," officials stated. Launched in 2020, Archetyp was Europe's longest-serving drug market at the time of its takedown last week, and authorities today confirmed a number of key arrests.
Major Police Operation Takes Down Notorious Dark Web Marketplace Archetyp Market
While China-based vendors are frequently referenced as the source of precursors for dangerous synthetic drugs, their involvement in machinery sales is also an important aspect of the drug supply chain. Retail vendors appear to be holding a greater portion of their proceeds on-chain than wholesale vendors, while wholesale vendors (those who distribute drugs in large quantities) are making greater use of DeFi. While these outfits are not traditional DNMs, their success highlights how drug vendors are scaling their operations throughout Russian-speaking countries. Law enforcement also seized more than $53.4 million in cash and virtual currencies, as well as 850 kilograms of drugs. The arrests were made two years after German authorities secretly seized control of the market's infrastructure. Milomir Desnica is accused of launching and running Monopoly since late 2019, using the platform to facilitate the sale of various drugs including opioids, stimulants, psychedelics, and prescription medications.
For example, in November 2023, while operating in an undercover capacity on Incognito Market, a law enforcement agent purchased and received several tablets purported to be oxycodone. According to court documents and statements made in court, Incognito Market was an online narcotics bazaar that started on the dark web in October 2020. “We will continue to monitor, investigate and bring to justice those who misuse the internet in a quest for profits with reckless disregard for the risk to public health and safety.” “This record-breaking operation sends a clear message to every trafficker hiding behind a screen—your anonymity ends where our global reach begins,” said Acting Director Todd Lyons of U.S. This critical strike against dark web networks fueling the fentanyl crisis marks a proud moment in our ongoing effort to protect communities worldwide.” “This unprecedented operation is a testament to the power of global partnership and the unwavering dedication of our team,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
On the Reddit-style dark web forum known as “Dread,” users are trying to determine which vendors were compromised by the operation, Straight Arrow News found. A moderator and six prominent vendors were arrested simultaneously in other countries, and officers seized assets worth about $9 million. Archetyp Market, which boasted more than 600,000 users, operated for more than five years and contained more than 17,000 listings for illicit substances, including cocaine, MDMA and amphetamines. The longest-standing dark web drug market was taken down by European authorities last week with the aid of the United States. The market had more than 600,000 users and contained more than 17,000 listings for illicit substances.
Silk Road, launched in early 2011, was the world’s first major Tor based marketplace. In practice, authorities combine blockchain forensics, metadata analysis and international raids to dismantle these sites. By 2025, agencies also use dark web search Engines and honeypots to infiltrate markets.
