‘Dark’ Network of Illegal Websites Targeted by U.S. and European Police

[Valin]

NY Times:

DOREEN CARVAJAL

NOV. 7, 2014

 

PARIS — An international task force executed a series of raids and arrests in 16 countries on Friday aimed at shutting down a secret network of websites. These so-called dark sites matched anonymous sellers and buyers in a thriving black market for illicit goods and services including drugs, stolen credit cards, weapons and killers for hire.

 

The investigation, nicknamed Operation Onymous, targeted mostly sellers and deactivated upward of 50 websites like Silk Road 2.0, Mr. Quid’s Forum, Paypal Center, Cannabis Road Markets and Blue Sky, according to Europol.

 

Across Europe and the United States, at least 17 sellers were arrested this week and law enforcement authorities seized Bitcoins valued at $1 million along with gold, cash and drugs, according to Troels Oerting, who heads Europol’s cybercrime center.

 

The investigation had been underway for several months as the dark market “mushroomed,” Mr. Oerting said, “And we had to find a way to see how we could strike back.”

 

(Snip)

 

H/T Friends on Ours