Fifty-five people have been arrested in the UK as part of an international crackdown on the illegal drug and commodity trade on the dark web.
In total, nearly 300 suspects were detained in countries including the United States (153), Germany (52), the Netherlands (10), Austria (9), France (5), Switzerland (2), Poland and Brazil (1 each) ).
They are all suspected of using an illicit market known as the Monopoly Market, where substances including amphetamines and cocaine are bought and sold.
More than £43 million in cash and cryptocurrencies were seized in raids coordinated by EU law enforcement agency Europol and carried out by authorities including the UK’s National Crime Agency and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Officers also found 850kg of drugs, including 43kg of MDMA and 10kg of LSD and MDMA, as well as 117 firearms.
Europol said the operation, known as SpecTor, was the most successful operation against dark web drug trafficking to date, with more than 179 people killed Disruptor missions in 2020.
Many of the detainees are considered “high-value targets”.
The agency said it showed international cooperation was key to fighting cybercrime, using intelligence to investigate suspects based on evidence provided by German authorities.
Executive Director Catherine De Bolle said: “This operation sends a strong message to criminals on the dark web: international law enforcement has the means and ability to identify and hold accountable for your illegal activity, even on the dark web.”
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Europol revealed that the investigation continued to identify other suspects behind the Monopoly accounts.
Thousands of customers around the world are also at risk of prosecution as law enforcement obtained the vendor’s extensive buyer list during the operation.