Europol’s recent announcement of the arrest of an Italian national for allegedly hiring a hitman through a dark web site has shed light on the disturbing trend of contract killings being arranged online. The suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, is said to have paid €10,000 in Bitcoin to have their ex-girlfriend murdered. This transaction took place on a website hosted on the TOR network, a platform notorious for its anonymity and illegal activities.
The successful operation was a collaborative effort between Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT), and the Italian Postal and Communication Police (Polizia Postale e delle Comunicazioni). Through advanced crypto-analysis, the authorities were able to trace the cryptocurrency service provider used by the suspect, leading to the identification and subsequent arrest of the individual. The swift action taken by law enforcement is credited with saving the life of the intended victim.
According to a report released by Europol in February, there has been a concerning rise in the use of violence by organized crime groups, with contract killings becoming more prevalent across Europe. The report highlighted the emergence of younger and less experienced hitmen, resulting in lower costs for hiring their services. The price for a contract killing now ranges between €10,000 and €100,000, depending on the country of operation.
The report also noted that hired assassins often operate independently from organized crime groups, making them harder to track and apprehend. The use of dark web platforms to advertise assassination services is not a new phenomenon, but arrests in such cases are rare. One notable incident occurred in August 2020 when a New Jersey man was charged with hiring a hitman to murder a 14-year-old victim. However, this plot was exposed after the suspect had already been apprehended for other offenses, suggesting that the dark web site he used may have been a scam aimed at extorting money from unsuspecting clients.
The case of the Italian national highlights the importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime and ensuring the safety of potential targets. Europol’s efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating on the dark web serve as a crucial deterrent against illicit activities and uphold the rule of law in the digital age.