How Many Police Agencies Are Going After Darknet Markets

Understanding Law Enforcement Efforts Against Darknet Markets

Thanks to the evidence Stefan and his team gathered on the Robertsson brothers, Swedish courts were able to convict them of selling drugs on the darknet. After conducting undercover purchases from Robertsson on Flugsvamp to confirm he was still selling drugs, Stefan and his team received warrants to tap Robertsson’s phone, put a GPS tracker on his vehicle, and watch his house with cameras. By placing more test orders with him and observing his online and offline behavior, they were able to intercept more of his packages and build their case further. It appears likely that Nightmare’s administrators decided to exit scam soon after the apparent hack.

The investigation targeted the operators and administrators of Hydra, according to German authorities. Among other things, authorities said the market was being used for criminal transactions, money laundering and abundant sales of illegal narcotics. TRM research shows that darknet markets (DNMs) have bounced back following the shutdown of Hydra, the world’s largest such marketplace, by German law enforcement in April 2022.

The proliferation of darknet markets has led to an increasing interest from law enforcement agencies globally. The question of how many police agencies are going after darknet markets encompasses various factors, including international collaboration and the resources committed to this endeavor.

All of that suggests AlphaBay may already be the most popular market for dark web vendors to list their wares for sale. Helping in the operation were law enforcement authorities from the U.S., Switzerland, Moldova and Ukraine. U.S. authorities assisting include the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation agency, the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The site had over 42,000 listings as of the time it was taken down, with hundreds of sellers and tens of thousands of customers registered as users. One technological revolution that significantly accelerated the ease of operating an illicit business such as a DNM on the darkweb was the invention of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies, which provided a convenient payment method for goods exchanged.

Fill out the form to speak with our team about investigative professional services. While some companies do offer this service, be aware the results are always incomplete, because there are many private forums and sites that simply cannot be discovered or indexed by a scanner. “We’re going after the users who leverage a service like Genesis Market, and we are doing that on a global scale,” the FBI official said.

The payment process in the darknet markets has followed the process which was used by the “Silk Road”, one of the first and best known darknet markets. Purchases in the darknet markets are typically made using virtual currencies like Bitcoin. An individual who wants to buy a product in the darknet market needs to credit his/her darknet market account with Bitcoins to make purchases in the darknet market. The buyer purchases and moves Bitcoins to the darknet user account used by the buyer and makes the desired purchase. Once the buyer has initiated the purchase, the respective cost of the purchase in Bitcoins from the buyer’s account are held in the darknet market’s escrow until the order has been completed. Once the purchase order has been completed, the Bitcoins are released to the Seller (Vendor).

Key Law Enforcement Agencies Involved

The U.S. portion of the investigation was coordinated through the DOJ’s Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement team, which includes the DOJ, FBI and DEA, among others. Investigations and prosecutions remain ongoing in more than 30 federal districts, the agency said in its statement. With so many different groups operating in the space and most heavily rely on acronyms, we’ve compiled a list of the prominent international government, intelligence, and law enforcement organizations that we’ve seen mentioned in significant operations carried out on the darknet. The table below includes their common and formal names, as well as the countries they primarily operate in. While Russian-language markets are well known for serving only Russians, experts say that’s not the dominant darknet market language globally. “We have observed various types of fraud focus on specific regions – for example, drug sales, carding and malware development,” which is localized for that region, and in those cases, the markets often use the local language.”

Mega received nearly $40 million in March 2023, followed by Blacksprut with around $20 million. Analysis and insights from hundreds of the brightest minds in the cybersecurity industry to help you prove compliance, grow business and stop threats. After the government had been investigating the crime for a decade, they finally got tipped off when a man in Athens, Georgia, called the police to say that he was burglarized and that the thieves stole “a lot of Bitcoin”, which attracted the attention of the IRS. Ukraine has been targeted by Russian threat actors in the new Operation Texontodisinformation campaign that also involved spear-phishing and credential exfiltration tactics, according to The Hacker News. Finally, despite its large size, the sample only allowed us to perform non-parametric tests due to the lack of normal distribution.

The DOJ also charged one of Hydra Market’s alleged operators with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In the wake of an operation to take down the global online platform that sold stolen identities, people are being urged to check if they have been affected. Genesis specialised in the sale of digital products, especially “browser fingerprints” harvested from computers infected with malicious software, said Louise Ferrett, an analyst at British cybersecurity firm Searchlight Cyber. A banner plastered across Genesis Market’s site late on Tuesday said domains belonging to the organisation had been seized by the FBI. Logos of other European, Canadian and Australian police organisations were also emblazoned across the site, along with that of cybersecurity firm Qintel. United States Justice Department Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement many of the forum’s users were arrested on Tuesday.

• While the biggest hurdle to operating a dark market was once the issue of gaining the trust of vendors and customers to use your site, the barrage of seizures and exits leaves many bouncing to and from one dark market to the next.
• “The gig is up folks, they’re going balls to the wall,” Reddit user OlympusXans posted in a forum dedicated to darknet markets.
• In this section, we will explore the potential future of darknet markets and what it means for both buyers and sellers.
• In the world of digital forensics – FTK 8 is here to change the way you perform forensic analysis and review.

Many police agencies are actively targeting darknet markets. These include:

• FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) – The U.S. agency focuses on crimes that occur on the darknet.
• DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) – This agency addresses drug-related offenses linked to darknet sales.
• Europol – The EU’s law enforcement agency coordinates raids across member countries.
• Interpol – Facilitates international cooperation in disrupting global darknet operations.
• Local police departments – Many local agencies have specialized cyber units targeting darknet activity.

Collaboration and Coordination Efforts

The fight against darknet markets is not confined to individual countries. Notable collaborations include:

• Joint task forces – Comprising various agencies to share intelligence and resources.
• Operation Disruption – A coordinated series of global actions aimed at dismantling marketplaces.
• Information sharing networks – These ensure that agencies are informed about emerging darknet trends.

Strategies Employed by Law Enforcement

Law enforcement agencies deploy a range of strategies to counter darknet markets:

• Undercover operations – Agents engage with vendors to gather intelligence.
• Digital forensics – Techniques to analyze and track transactions on the blockchain.
• Community outreach – Educating the public about the risks associated with darknet activities.

Law Enforcement Techniques In Darknet Markets: A Case Study

Impact of Law Enforcement Actions

Law enforcement’s efforts have led to significant impacts in the realm of darknet markets.

• Market closures – Several high-profile arrests have shut down major platforms.
• Vendor arrests – Targeting key players disrupts supply chains.
• Deterrence effects – Increased risk may dissuade new vendors and buyers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many countries are involved in targeting darknet markets?

Numerous countries are implicated, with major contributions from the United States, Canada, the UK, and various EU nations, leading to a comprehensive international effort.

What is the role of technology in combating darknet markets?

Technology plays a pivotal role by enabling law enforcement to track bitcoin transactions and develop algorithms to identify suspicious activities.

Are darknet markets still operational despite law enforcement pressure?

Yes, while many markets have been taken down, new ones continue to emerge, often adopting enhanced measures to evade detection.

The fight against darknet markets involves many police agencies worldwide, utilizing collaborative strategies to confront a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The ongoing efforts illustrate a robust commitment to addressing the challenges posed by these illicit platforms.