Dark web marketplace Monopoly Market seized, resulting in 288 arrests
The marketplace was seized in an international operation, nicknamed SpecTor, coordinated by Europol and involved law enforcement from nine countries – Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, the UK, the USA, and Switzerland.
An international law enforcement operation took down the illegal dark web marketplace ‘Monopoly Market,‘ resulting in the arrest of 288 suspects who were involved in drug trafficking on the marketplace. Officials recovered more than EUR 50.8 million (US$ 53.4 million) in cash and virtual currencies, 850 kg of drugs (over 258 kg of amphetamines, 43 kg of cocaine, 43 kg of MDMA, 10 kg of LSD and ecstasy pills) and seized more than 117 firearms.
Image source: Europol
Europol had initiated investigations based on the intelligence and evidence provided by German authorities after they had seized the marketplace’s criminal infrastructure in December 2021.
Law enforcement authorities are now investigating to identify additional people involved in the dark web accounts based on the vendor’s list of buyers and customers they have gained access to.
Commenting on Operation SpecTor, Europol’s Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle, stated, ‘Our coalition of law enforcement authorities across three continents proves that we all do better when we work together. This operation sends a strong message to criminals on the dark web: international law enforcement has the means and the ability to identify and hold you accountable for your illegal activities, even on the dark web.’
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