The European police service Europol has arrested a total of 270 people, including 4 Dutch citizens, in a large operation targeting the dark web. Many criminal organizations are active on this shielded part of the internet.
The Europol action targeted criminals who trade drugs and weapons via the dark web. A total of 270 people from ten countries were arrested. By far the most suspects (130) come from the United States.
Also, 42 Germans, 37 Britons, 29 French, 19 South Koreans and 3 Brazilians were arrested. The remaining suspects came from other European countries.
In addition to the hundreds of arrests, Europol seized more than 184 million euros in crypto coins, more than 2,000 kilos of drugs (including amphetamine, cocaine and ketamine) and 180 firearms. According to the European police service, these seizures are “a huge disruption” of criminal supply lines.
The suspects came into view thanks to information from intelligence about various providers on the dark web. Many of them had already sold thousands of illegal items. They used encrypted messages and crypto money to remain anonymous.
It is not the first European action targeting the dark web. In 2023, Europol arrested 288 criminals who were active on the dark web. Among them were ten Dutch citizens.