Have People Been Arrested For Buying From Darknet Markets

Countries Involved In Dark HunTOR Investigations

The database has various categories, such as whether the person arrested was a buyer, seller, market staff member, or an operator of the site. The market in question is also included, as well as the country and what product was involved, if any. US Attorney General Merrick Garland said today in a speech that the US Department of Justice would continue working with the international community to prevent cybercriminal activity on the dark web. “A number of investigations to identify additional individuals behind dark web accounts are still ongoing,” the European cops noted in announcing the arrests. That so-called Operation DisrupTor followed a law agency shutdown in May 2019 of the Wall Street Market, the second-largest dark web exchange, which had more than 1.1 million users and 5,400 vendors. The secret “darknet“ includes websites that can be accessed only with specific software or authorisations, ensuring anonymity for users.

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• In fact, this hidden web is so large that it’s impossible to discover exactly how many pages or websites are active at any one time.
• According to our historical darknet records, DeSnake had connections in Russia although his true identity and location was not publicly known.
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Operation Bayonet, which would ultimately lead to the shutdown of several prominent marketplaces, began with Dutch police seizing another lesser-known market called Hansa Market. After compromising Hansa, authorities secretly operated the market for almost a month. While the Dutch focussed their efforts on Hansa, United States FBI operatives coordinated with international police to DDoS AlphaBay and seize its assets, enabling the Royal Thai Police to locate and arrest its administrator, Alexander Cazes (a.k.a. alpha02). “Nevertheless, the potential gray legal areas could be used by criminal defendants as legal proceedings take place,” Marriott said.

Have People Been Arrested for Buying from Darknet Markets?

Eventually, the framework was repurposed and has since been made public in the form of the browser we know today. The dark web refers to sites that are not indexed and only accessible via specialized web browsers. Significantly smaller than the tiny surface web, the dark web is considered a part of the deep web. Using our ocean and iceberg visual, the dark web would be the bottom tip of the submerged iceberg. We are grateful to Katalin Feher Ph.D. (National University of Public Service, Budapest, Hungary) for her mentorship during the publication preparation process.

The rise of darknet markets has led to increased interest and concern from law enforcement agencies around the world. These platforms, often accessed through special browsers like Tor, enable users to buy illegal goods and services anonymously.

The question arises: have people been arrested for buying from darknet markets? The answer is a resounding yes. Over the past decade, numerous individuals have faced legal repercussions for their activities on these platforms.

Attackers can use tools like keyloggers to gather your data, and they can infiltrate your system on any part of the web. Endpoint security programs like Kaspersky Security Cloud are comprehensive to cover both identity monitoring and antivirus defenses. With many Tor-based sites being overtaken by police authorities across the globe, there is a clear danger of becoming government target for simply visiting a dark website. On the software end, the use of Tor and other anonymized browsers is not strictly illegal. In fact, these supposed “dark web” browsers are not tethered exclusively to this portion of the internet.

Claire Georges, a spokeswoman for Europol, confirmed to me recently that DisrupTor was “entirely designed around” that first cache of information from CyberBunker’s servers. Although the dark web was once considered to be a relatively safe haven for those selling and buying drugs, international operations like Dark HunTor have seen regular arrests of suspects and speedy closure of marketplaces. The list of dark web markets closed just in recent years is extensive, including Dream, WallStreet, White House, DeepSea, and Dark Market. Although law enforcement certainly have to play Whac-A-Mole with such sites, with new markets springing up as soon as established ones are closed, doing so makes it harder for buyers and sellers to build steady businesses. Teams target the infrastructure of the darknet marketplaces to ultimately take them offline.

Understanding darknet markets

Darknet markets are online e-commerce sites, accessible only through encrypted networks. They typically deal in illegal products, including:

• Drugs
• Stolen data
• Firearms
• Counterfeit goods
• Hacking services

These marketplaces offer a level of anonymity for sellers and buyers, which has attracted many seeking illicit items without the risk of immediate detection.

Legal consequences of purchasing from darknet markets