A global crackdown on dark web drug sales has led to hundreds of arrests.
U.S. and international authorities arrested 354 people and seized drugs, guns, cash and cryptocurrency in Operation TorNado, the Justice Department said Nov. 12. The cash and cryptocurrency alone were worth more than $234 million. The arrest total is higher than those announced in several earlier sweeps by the same partnership.
What was Operation TorNado?
The operation targeted the sale of fentanyl and other drugs on hidden online marketplaces. The department described it as a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies and countries. Such markets are reached through special browsers like Tor that hide users’ identities and locations. The operation’s name plays on Tor.
The Justice Department’s Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement team, known as JCODE, announced the results with Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency. JCODE brings together the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal agencies.
It is the latest in a series of joint operations against illegal trade on the dark web.
Which dark web markets were targeted?
Vendors and buyers on marketplaces including Archetyp, Bohemia, Nemesis, Kingdom and Tor2Door were caught up in the crackdown. Buyers typically pay in cryptocurrency, and drugs are often shipped through the mail.
Several of those sites had already been shut down by authorities in earlier operations, according to reports.
Such takedowns can leave records that help investigators trace users long after a site goes dark. Seized servers and crypto records have fueled arrests in past operations.
Where were the arrests made?
The United States led with 132 arrests, followed by 59 in the United Kingdom, 45 in Hungary, 41 in Germany and 23 in France. The U.S. share made up more than a third of the total.
Authorities also made 13 arrests in New Zealand, 12 in the Netherlands, 11 in Slovenia, six in Austria, five in Ireland, four in Czechia, two in Australia and one in Finland.
In all, the operation reached 13 countries in North America, Europe and the Pacific. The broad reach reflects how online sellers ship across borders.
Why does dark web fentanyl matter?
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid far stronger than heroin, has driven the overdose crisis in the United States. Overdose deaths have dropped from their peak but still claim tens of thousands of lives each year.
Pills sold on the dark web may be counterfeit and contain fentanyl without buyers knowing it. Even a small amount can be deadly. Drug checking tools such as fentanyl test strips can help detect it, though they are not foolproof.
Naloxone, sold over the counter as Narcan, can reverse an opioid overdose. Anyone who suspects an overdose should call 911. The federal SAMHSA National Helpline offers free treatment referrals around the clock.
Black Americans have seen some of the sharpest increases in overdose deaths in recent years, according to federal data. Community groups have pushed for more access to treatment and naloxone in hard hit neighborhoods.
What happens next for dark web dealers?
Details on specific charges and the amounts of drugs and weapons seized were not immediately available. Those arrested are expected to face charges in the countries where they were caught. Some suspects could face extradition, depending on where their alleged crimes took place.
Each operation sends a message that hiding behind the anonymity of the dark web does not guarantee safety from the law.
JCODE and Europol have carried out similar sweeps in recent years, and authorities are expected to keep targeting dark web markets as new ones appear. Rolling Out will update this story as more details are released.
