German authorities have successfully shut down what they believe to be the largest illegal dark web marketplace in the country and have arrested a suspected administrator of the site. The operation was carried out by investigators from the Frankfurt am Main Public Prosecutor’s Office – Central Office for Combating Internet Crime (ZIT) and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), resulting in the seizure of valuable assets, evidence, and €1m ($1.1m) in crypto assets.
The marketplace, known as Crimenetwork, facilitated the trade of stolen data, drugs, forged documents, and other illicit goods and services. With over 100,000 users and more than 100 sellers primarily from German-speaking countries, Crimenetwork had been operating since 2012. The site operated like most dark web marketplaces, with transactions conducted using cryptocurrency. According to the BKA, the site facilitated sales amounting to at least 1000 BTC ($96.9m) and over 20,000 XMR ($4m) between 2018-24, with the operators taking a commission on each sale.
The 29-year-old individual arrested in connection with Crimenetwork is facing charges of operating a criminal trading platform and dealing in narcotics. The investigation involved collaboration with Dutch authorities, specifically the Zeeland-West-Brabant Public Prosecutor’s Office and Police.
German law enforcement has been on a winning streak in combating illegal activities on the dark web. Prior to the crackdown on Crimenetwork, authorities had disrupted Crimemarket in March, described as another major illegal dark web marketplace in the country. In December 2023, they also took down Kingdom Market. More recently, in September 2024, the BKA and ZIT announced the dismantling of numerous cryptocurrency exchanges accused of facilitating money laundering and other criminal activities.
The successful operation against Crimenetwork is a testament to the ongoing efforts of German authorities to combat illicit activities on the dark web. By dismantling these illegal marketplaces and prosecuting those responsible, law enforcement agencies are sending a strong message that such activities will not be tolerated. The investigation into Crimenetwork continues as authorities analyze user and transaction data obtained from the platform.