Federal law enforcement officials announced on 26 October 2021 that a wide-ranging, global illicit drug crackdown yielded 150 arrests and the seizure of more than $31.6 million in cash and virtual currencies. The 10-month law enforcement initiative called Operation Dark HunTOR, after the encrypted Internet tool, was conducted in partnership with international counterparts. The operation produced 234 kilograms (500 lbs.) of seized drugs. Of those arrested, 65 were in the US and the remaining were in several European countries including Germany, France and the UK.
“We face new and increasingly dangerous threats as drug traffickers expand into the digital world and use the dark net to sell dangerous drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine,” the head of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), said at a news conference. “We cannot stress enough the danger of these substances.”
Many of the drugs that were confiscated were found to be counterfeit or include other dangerous substances apart from what they were purported to be, such as fentanyl. “Those purchasing drugs through the dark net often don’t know what they’re getting,” said an Associate Deputy FBI Director. “Today we’re taking some of the most dangerous, unregulated drugs off the streets of America.” The operation included members of the Department of Justice’s Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement team and Europol.[1]
The US officials reported Operation Dark HunTOR sprang from prior law enforcement efforts to clamp down on the sale and distribution of drugs and other illicit items over the dark web, including the shutdown of digital marketplace DarkMarket at the beginning of the year.[2]
Law enforcement noted that the countries of Mexico and China are two major centers of activity related to illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking operations. “No one is beyond the reach of law, even on the dark web,” the Europol Deputy Executive Director said.
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[1] https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/26/dark-web-drug-crackdown-arrests-517177
[2] https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-law-enforcement-operation-targeting-opioid-traffickers-darknet-results-150
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