Skip to content
Magazine
Thursday, August 28, 2025
SUBSCRIBE
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
SUBSCRIBE

German authorities detain operator of largest illegal online market

Sarhan Basem by Sarhan Basem
12 January 2021
in Europe News

Brussels (Brussels Morning) DarkMarket, the world’s largest illegal marketplace on the dark web, has been shut down thanks to an international operation coordinated by Europol, with the German authorities which resulted in the authorities apprehending the suspected operator of the site, dpa reported on Tuesday.

Almost half a million users regularly visited DarkMarket to deal in contraband goods and services, mainly illegal drugs, counterfeit money, stolen or counterfeit credit cards, anonymous SIM cards and various malware. The website recorded over 320,000 transactions, in which more than 140 million euro changed hands.

Collaborative effort

Europol coordinated the cross-border collaborative effort of all the countries and agencies involved, including Germany, Australia, Denmark, Moldova, Ukraine, and the US (represented by the DEA, FBI and the IRS).

In an investigation led by the cyber crime division of the Koblenz Public Prosecutor’s Office, German police arrested the suspected operator of the site, a 34-year old Australian citizen. The investigators were also able to locate and close the marketplace, switch off the servers and seize the criminal infrastructure – more than 20 servers located in Moldova and Ukraine.

Investigating vendors

The seized servers also contained gigabytes of data, which the investigators will use to gain new leads into moderators, sellers and buyers. At the time of the closing, DarkMarket had more than 2,400 listed suppliers.

This is a second major cyber-bust for the Koblenz prosecutors. In 2019, they discovered 200 darknet servers hidden in a former NATO bunker near Traben-Trarbach, a sleepy German town of some 5,600 residents in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

The bunker was a secure 5,000-square metre facility with iron doors and five underground floors. At the time, German police arrested 13 people, including the suspected ringleader, a 59-year old Dutch national with ties to organised crime in the Netherlands, who had been living in the bunker.

Related News:

  • What is illegal offline should be illegal online.
  • Germany now second largest electric car market after China
  • Georgian police detain opposition leader Melia in dramatic raid
  • Serbian police detain activist for defacing mural depicting war criminal
Tags: EuropolNews
Next Post
Doctor is being Sought Blood Plasma from Recovered Covid-19 Patients.

Commission looks at plasma for COVID-19 treatment

Latest post

EU-elections-UK

EU elections: UK looks on from the “outside”

1 year ago
Galeries-Royales-Saint-Hubert

What Makes Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert an “Institution”?

1 year ago

Most Read

    Follow Brussels Morning
    Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

    Browse Important News

    Belgium News
    Brussels News
    Culture and Society News
    Economy News
    EU Institutions News
    European Commission News
    European Council News
    European Parliament News
    Europe News
    Health And Fitness News
    Southeast Europe News
    Sustainable Perspective
    World News
    Diplomacy News
    US Elections News

    About Us

    Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

    More Info

    • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookies Policy

    Join Our Newsletter

    Brussels Morning Newspaper – All Rights Reserved © 2024

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Belgium News
      • Belgium Police News
      • Brussels News
    • Brussels Bubble
      • European Parliament News
      • European Commission News
      • European Council News
    • Wider Europe
      • Member States
    • World News
    • Business & Society
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Culture & Society
    • Policy Talks
      • Place de la Bourse
      • The Macro-Economist
      • Sustainable Perspective
      • Ambassador’s Corner
      • The American Angle
      • Southeast Europe
    • Print Magazine

    Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT