How Many Police Agencies Are Going After Darknet Markets?

• After the Silk Road closure, many studies started focusing on the trend and patterns of darknet-related crimes in the 2010s.
• The arrests stem from the December 2021 seizure of the infrastructure supporting the Monopoly Market, a darknet drug marketplace dating back to 2019.
• Such accounts and profiles might be available on stolen data lists hosted on the dark web.

While prevention should target potential customers, survey research involving the users of darknet markets usually ends up being small-scale (Bergeron et al., 2022b; Karden & Strizek, 2022). To overcome this issue, we selected a population whose members have characteristics that help them place themselves in fictitious purchasing situations on the darknet. This projective (third-person) technique can help when respondents do not want to reveal their real attitudes about something (Kumar et al., 2018) and has already been applied in cyber criminology (Parti et al., 2018).

Trust Factors And Hypotheses

The darknet markets, also known as the “deep web” or “dark web,” are a hot topic in the world of law enforcement. These online marketplaces, which can only be accessed through special software, dark web forum are often used for illegal activities such as drug trafficking, weapons sales, and money laundering. But just how many police agencies are going after these illicit marketplaces?

For example, concurrent with the takedown of Hydra was the sanctioning of Garantex, the Moscow-based exchange that made multiple transactions with Hydra-linked addresses. The first ever DNM — called Silk Road — was started in 2011 by U.S. citizen Ross Ulbricht. While it included some innocuous listings such as health supplements, the majority of vendors and most of the sales were related to illicit drugs. Silk Road not only aggregated thousands of drug vendors, it created a user-friendly interface that resembled a clear-net shopping website. Ulbricht was eventually arrested by US law enforcement and Silk Road was seized and taken offline.

Law Enforcement Shifts Tactics As Dark Web Becomes The New Marketplace For Drug Trafficking

A Growing Number of Agencies

Volume Of Cash-out Services On Other Markets

However, reputations are difficult to maintain in the dark net ecosystem – harder still if there are questions regarding whether your account may now be in the control of law enforcement. It is possible that Hydra admins – or unconnected individuals – will seek to create a new market targeting primarily Russian customers, although it may take some time to re-establish the status that Hydra enjoyed for so long. Today’s actions mark the third time in which a virtual asset service provider has been sanctioned in its entirety.

The number of police agencies targeting darknet markets is growing as more and more of these marketplaces pop up. According to a report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, there were over 50 active darknet markets in 2019, with a total of over 300,000 listings. This has led to an increase in the number of police agencies dedicating resources to investigating and shutting down these marketplaces.

OFAC’s press release highlights the connection between Garantex and the previously-sanctioned exchanges – Suex and Chatex – all of which operated out of the same building in Moscow, Russia. As detailed in OFAC’s press release accompanying today’s sanction announcement, the agency identified “approximately $8 dark web drug market 2024 million in ransomware proceeds that transited Hydra’s virtual currency accounts, including from the Ryuk, Sodinokibi, and Conti ransomware variants”. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced that a law enforcement operation seized more than 50,676 Bitcoin worth an incredible $3.36 billion.

International Cooperation

One of the key ways that police agencies are combating darknet markets is through international cooperation. In 2017, for example, the FBI, the DEA, and the Dutch National Police worked together to take down the AlphaBay and Hansa marketplaces, which were two of the largest darknet markets at the time. This type of international cooperation is essential for taking down these global marketplaces, as they often have servers and administrators in multiple countries.

FAQs

How do police agencies find darknet markets?

Police agencies use a variety of methods to find and investigate darknet markets. These can include undercover operations, analyzing data from seized servers, and using specialized software to search for and dark web vpn monitor darknet marketplaces. Additionally, police agencies often work with other organizations, such as cybersecurity firms and internet service providers, to gather intelligence on darknet markets.

What types of crimes are committed on darknet markets?

Darknet markets are used for a wide range of illegal activities, including drug trafficking, weapons sales, and money laundering. They can also be used for other types of crimes, such as identity theft, hacking, and the sale of stolen data. However, it is important to note that not all activity on darknet markets is illegal. Some marketplaces, for example, specialize in the sale of legal goods and services, such as digital products and VPN subscriptions.

How can I stay safe on the darknet?

Staying safe on the darknet requires the same precautions as staying safe on the regular internet. This includes using strong, unique passwords, being cautious when clicking on links or downloading files, and using a reputable VPN service. Additionally, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with darknet markets and to only use them for legitimate purposes. If you do decide to use a darknet market, be sure to research it thoroughly and only use trusted sources.

Conclusion

The number of police agencies going after darknet markets is increasing as more and more of these marketplaces pop up. Through international cooperation and the use of specialized software and techniques, law enforcement is working to take down these illegal marketplaces and protect the public. However, it is important for individuals to also take steps to protect themselves when using the darknet, such as using strong passwords and being cautious when clicking on links or downloading files.