A leader of a highly sophisticated drug trafficking operation was recently sentenced in federal court in hidden wiki Boston for manufacturing and distributing controlled substances on the Dark Web. The arrest stemmed from a sting operation and a large-scale investigation. The case brought to light several dark web accounts linked to the same person and their criminal activities.
Operation DisrupTor
In May 2016, law enforcement agencies conducted a multi-agency operation known as Operation DisrupTor, which seized a massive amount of illegal drugs and cash. The operation also resulted in the arrest of 121 individuals, including two in Canada. The arrests led to multiple federal prosecutions. The police seized approximately $500 kilograms of illicit drugs.
The operation targeted individuals engaged in online drug sales and resulted in the arrest of 179 suspects. The operation also resulted in the disbandment of the darknet market DarkMarket. At the time, it was the largest illicit dark web bazaar. As of February 2019, it is still unclear if Operation DisrupTor will prove to be effective. However, its results have sparked interest among law enforcement agencies.
The operation targeted criminals on the dark web who were using Tor to hide their identity. The US Justice Department and police agencies seized more than 1,100 pounds of drugs, cash and virtual currencies. Europol and German law enforcement agencies also played an active role in the operation.
Among the seized products were illicit drugs, counterfeit goods, and malicious computer hacking software. Police also seized nearly $6.5 million in cash and cryptocurrencies from the dark web marketplace. The arrests were made after the investigation revealed the identities of hundreds of individuals using the dark web marketplaces.
The arrests were part of a large international law enforcement operation aimed at combating the dark web. The operation involved multiple nations and involved investigators from the FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Europol. The bust also resulted in the seizure of over 6.5 million dollars in cash, 500 kilograms of illicit drugs, and 64 firearms. The arrests prove that the anonymity of the Dark Web marketplaces is no longer a safe haven for criminals.
In a multi-agency effort, the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement Network (J-CODE) was formed in January 2018. This team brings together federal and international law enforcement agencies to combat these criminals.
Alwaysoverweight
The RCMP started an investigation into dark web drug trafficking and bitcoin exchanges in January 2019. As part of the investigation, the RCMP identified the domain name "AlwaysOvrWeight" and the people behind it. They also gathered evidence that supported the allegations. The domain name was used to sell GHB, a psychoactive drug that is sometimes found in spiked drinks served at parties.
The three men involved in the bust are being held on multiple drug trafficking charges. The operation was funded with cryptocurrency and encrypted messaging applications. Several drugs were advertised on the AlwaysOverweight website, including methamphetamine, oxycodone, cocaine, MDMA, and fentanyl. The three suspects are facing a total of seven drug-related charges.
ToRReZ account
The ToRReZ market was launched in February 2020 and has grown significantly since. There are over 20,000 listings and a diverse list of vendors. The site also claims to be community driven, putting emphasis on customer support. Users can buy and sell narcotics, counterfeit goods, malware, data dumps, and more.
The ToRReZ market also makes it easy to secure your account. The system uses a special 2-FA system similar to Google Authenticator or Authy. This is much easier to use than signing PGP messages. ToRReZ users must follow a series of instructions to secure their accounts.
Authorities matched the profile on Adams' ToRReZ account to her driver's license photo. They also learned that both Adams and Hosner registered automobile insurance from the same Palm Desert address. The undercover agents were able to make five undercover purchases of fake oxycodone, and were able to trace the transactions using cryptocurrency.
The Dark Web Drugs Market also provides an extra layer of security. Users are required to register and receive a Mnemonic code, 8-digit PIN, and welcome text. In addition, users can also opt for 2-factor authentication and self-destruct passwords. Drugs and other items are the most popular categories on the Dark Web.
The DarkWeb is a huge, underground marketplace for illegal goods. Authorities have seized drugs, weapons, and $30 million in cryptocurrency. Its users shield their identities and create marketplaces to sell and buy illicit items. According to a Las Vegas federal grand jury, Paul Engstrom, Vincent Cuomo, and Abraham Elliott were indicted on six counts of conspiracy to distribute drugs and six counts of possession with intent to distribute. The three were also charged with a money laundering conspiracy.
ToRReZ account linked to Coinbase account
A recent report shows that a ToRReZ account is linked to a Coinbase account used in a dark web drug bust in California. Authorities say the pair made more than $800,000 in Bitcoin between May 2021 and March 2022. Approximately five of those sales were to undercover law enforcement agents. The pair used cryptocurrency to pay for their products and were seen mailing packages.
The pair, Holly Adams, and Devlin Hosner, were caught in a dark web drug bust on May 2021. They were suspected of running separate vendor accounts on the underground drug market ToRReZ. The pair allegedly sold fake Oxycontin pills laced with fentanyl. They had been conducting their business through the ToRReZ platform for months before their arrest.
The NCIDE task force says that an undercover agent made a purchase from an online vendor on the Silk Road in February and that he then sent the money via Venmo to a vendor who had provided him with a Cash App username. This gave the undercover agent a "solid path" to follow.
The dark web has become a haven for drug trafficking, and this is the ideal place to transact illegally with cryptocurrencies. The prosecutors led a federal jury through the dark web's maze of websites. They found that fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone were being sold for a fortune in crypto currency.
Those who are suspicious of the relationship between these two sites should take note of the email headers of these two accounts. The FBI also uncovered Burgamy's email address, a Mailchimp account, and Coinbase account. This information matched the records of these services, which made it easy for the FBI to follow him back to Baltimore. During the search, the FBI found dozens of opioid pills and eight firearms. The FBI is still waiting to conduct lab tests to determine if these drugs were indeed legitimate.