On May 2, 2023, Europol announced the successful dismantling of the darknet marketplace (DNM) Monopoly Market, following a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies from the U.S., Europe, the U.K., and Brazil. The operation, dubbed “Operation Spector,” resulted in 288 arrests, the confiscation of 850 kg of illegal drugs, 117 firearms, and $53.4 million in cash and cryptocurrencies.
The U.S. Justice Department and Europol revealed that officials from around the globe collaborated to bring down Monopoly Market, which was captured in December 2021, leading to over 100 federal investigations and prosecutions within the United States. Monopoly’s servers were seized by their host, likely due to law enforcement action, according to “Dark.fail,” an anonymous DNM and Tor researcher. German authorities subsequently apprehended the DNM and started gathering evidence, which served as the foundation for hundreds of national investigations.
Monopoly vendors held prominent positions on other well-known DNMs, and the apprehended suspects were classified as “high-value targets.” The success of Operation Spector sent a strong message to criminals on the dark web that international law enforcement has the means and ability to identify and hold them accountable for their illegal activities.
However, despite the success of all of these operations, DNMs continue to proliferate, much like the mythical creature Hydra with its ability to regenerate its body parts. Currently, DNM patrons have a plethora of options to choose from, including Tor2door Market, ASAP Market, Abacus Market, Vice City Market, Archetyp Market, Bohemia Market, Incognito Market, Gammagoblin, Psycellium, Flugsvamp 4.0, Mega Darknet Market, and Cypher Market, among others.
While law enforcement agencies continue to work together to combat the proliferation of DNMs, it remains unclear what their next steps will be. With new DNMs popping up frequently and increasing demand for anonymity in transactions, the fight against illegal activities on the dark web remains ongoing.
It’s worth noting that the use of cryptocurrencies in illegal activities on the dark web and other criminal activities over the years has contributed to the negative perception of cryptocurrencies among certain groups. However, it’s crucial to recognize that not all cryptocurrency users engage in illegal activities, and many legitimate use cases exist for cryptocurrencies, such as cross-border payments and providing access to financial services for the unbanked.
In conclusion, the dismantling of Monopoly Market highlights the collaboration and success of international law enforcement agencies in combating illegal activities on the dark web. However, it is a reminder that the fight against DNMs is far from over, and law enforcement agencies must continue to work together to combat this ongoing issue. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency users must continue to advocate for legitimate use cases for cryptocurrencies and dispel myths of cryptocurrencies being solely used for illegal activities on the dark web.
