Dutch police reveal details in international takedown of "world's largest" illegal dark web market

What just happened? The kingpins behind two of the dark web's biggest illegal marketplaces are out of business and in handcuffs. Dutch police announced the arrests of key players after they shut shop last year and tried to run off with their ill-gotten funds.

The Bohemia and Cannabia platforms operated as a massive, unrestricted bazaar for every illicit good and service imaginable. At its peak, it hosted a mind-boggling 82,000 listings per day spanning drugs, malware, DDoS attacks, and more across 67,000 monthly transactions. The sites' staggering finances are highlighted by a €12 million revenue haul in September 2023 alone, according to the numbers shared by the authorities. The Dutch police said it is the "world's largest and longest-running international dark web market of all time."

The takedown of the two lawless enterprises became inevitable once Dutch cyberpolice gained access to the Netherlands-based servers connected to the black markets in 2022. A long undercover probe with the support of investigators from Ireland, the UK, and the US eventually identified the admins pulling the strings. Once identified, the authorities moved in.

Police arrested one of the prime suspects, an unnamed man from Ireland, at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport in June with plundered data, devices, and €8 million worth of cryptocurrency. He's been in custody since his arrest, and earlier this week, magistrates extended his stay as he awaits trial.

While a small portion of Bohemia's and Cannabia's transactions originated in the Netherlands, the market's worldwide span was unmistakable. Police have attributed at least €1.7 million in sales to Dutch dealers, but officials caution that deeper analysis will likely reveal an even higher number.

The illegal empires' downfall can all be traced back to growing "technical inconveniences" that ultimately prompted the admins to execute an evasive "exit scam," abruptly shutting down their businesses and going into hiding. Unfortunately for them, authorities were already watching them, so there was nowhere to hide.

Stan Duijf, the head of operations at the Rural Investigation and Interventions unit, said the bust should serve as a reminder to other criminals that the dark web is not as anonymous as its users might think. Authorities are continually investigating and prosecuting individuals and breaking up organizations. They might think they are getting away with their illegal activities, but the police remain vigilant.

Image credit: Nick Youngson