288 people were arrested across the world in an operation coordinated by Europol

A global crackdown on illegal trade on the dark web has led to 288 arrests and the seizure of approximately €51 million in cash and virtual currency, Europol announced on Tuesday (May 2). The international operation “SpecTor”, coordinated by Europol and involving nine countries, also led to the seizure of 850 kilos of drugs and 117 firearms.

“Law enforcement seized the illegal ‘Monopoly Market’ platform and arrested 288 suspects involved in buying or selling drugs on the dark web”said in a press release the European police agency, based in The Hague.

Five arrests in France

This crackdown followed a German police operation in 2021 in which the criminal infrastructure of the sales platform was seized. Arrests have taken place across the European Union, including 52 in Germany, ten in the Netherlands and five in France, but also in the United Kingdom, the United States and Brazil.

This new operation, on three continents, “sends a strong message to dark web criminals”greeted the executive director of Europol, Catherine De Bolle, quoted in the press release.