European Union Police Service performed an operation to neutralize the international darknet marketplace Monopoly Market, arresting 288 suspects and confiscating €50.8 million ($53.4 million) in cryptocurrency and cash.
As part of the investigation, Europol cooperated with Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, the UK, the US and Switzerland.
In addition to money, authorities seized 850 kg of synthetic drugs and 117 firearms.
Law enforcers have been gathering intelligence based on a wealth of evidence unearthed following the closure of another darknet marketplace, Hydra. In April 2022, the German police confiscated the platform’s servers and 543 BTC, and the US Treasury imposed sanctions against it.
The shutdown of Hydra netted the authorities €23 million in digital assets, according to updated data from Europol.
“A coalition of law enforcement across three continents proves that we all do better when we work together. This operation sends a clear signal to criminals on the dark web that international law enforcement has the means and the ability to identify you and hold you accountable for your illegal actions.
Recall that in April 2023, a US court sentenced Georgia resident James Zhong to 1 year and 1 day in prison for stealing 50,000 BTC from the Silk Road darknet marketplace.
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Cryplogger Newsletters: Keep your finger on the pulse of the bitcoin industry!
European Union Police Service performed an operation to neutralize the international darknet marketplace Monopoly Market, arresting 288 suspects and confiscating €50.8 million ($53.4 million) in cryptocurrency and cash.
As part of the investigation, Europol cooperated with Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, the UK, the US and Switzerland.
In addition to money, authorities seized 850 kg of synthetic drugs and 117 firearms.
Law enforcers have been gathering intelligence based on a wealth of evidence unearthed following the closure of another darknet marketplace, Hydra. In April 2022, the German police confiscated the platform’s servers and 543 BTC, and the US Treasury imposed sanctions against it.
The shutdown of Hydra netted the authorities €23 million in digital assets, according to updated data from Europol.
“A coalition of law enforcement across three continents proves that we all do better when we work together. This operation sends a clear signal to criminals on the dark web that international law enforcement has the means and the ability to identify you and hold you accountable for your illegal actions.
Recall that in April 2023, a US court sentenced Georgia resident James Zhong to 1 year and 1 day in prison for stealing 50,000 BTC from the Silk Road darknet marketplace.
Found a mistake in the text? Select it and press CTRL+ENTER
Cryplogger Newsletters: Keep your finger on the pulse of the bitcoin industry!