Operation "SpecTor": Europol takes down large darknet site
In the course of Operation SpecTor, investigators arrested hundreds of suspects and were able to paralyse the darknet platform Monopoly Market.
The European police authority Europol recently arrested 288 people on sale in the coordinated "SpecTor" operation. The suspects were involved in tens of thousands of sales of illegal substances on the darknet. The Europol operation spanned several continents: Investigators from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the USA, the UK and four other countries were involved, writes Europol in the statement.
Over 50 million euros seized
In the video on Twitter - accompanied by thrilling music - Europol announces its success: 50.8 million euros, 850 kilos of drugs and 117 weapons have been seized. Most of the suspects were arrested in the USA, namely 153 people. Europol was able to arrest two people in Switzerland and 52 people in Germany.
Source: Screenshot Twitter Europol
The illegal drug trading platform "Monopoly Market" on the darknet has been exposed for some time in the wake of "SpecTor", and now action is being taken against its users. The infrastructure was already seized by German authorities in 2021.
Darknet buyers face the threat of trouble
In the notification of the action, Europol writes that the law enforcement authorities have now gained access to the suppliers' extensive buyer lists. This means that thousands more buyers around the world are at risk of prosecution. This is because the "Monopoly Market" dealers were also active on other marketplaces on the Darknet. This could further curb the drug trade.
In the run-up to this current coordinated operation, the Hydra platform, the dark web market with the highest turnover, had already been shut down in April 2022. And in April 2023, investigators shut down the Genesis platform in the course of Operation Cookie Monster. The Zurich cantonal police were also involved in this operation and "SpecTor". Europol also writes in the press release that the authorities have the means and the ability to identify illegal activities and bring them to justice - including on the dark web.
In Switzerland alone, five tonnes of cocaine were consumed last year. So there is probably still a lot for the authorities to do.
Cover picture: Livia Gamper
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