Bohemia and Cannabia Dark Web Marketplaces Dismantled by Dutch Authorities
Published on October 10, 2024
- The alleged operators of the notorious Bohemia and Cannabia dark web marketplaces were arrested.
- One individual was apprehended in the Netherlands, and the other suspect was detained in Ireland.
- The two detained individuals allegedly tried to run off with their illegal gains.
Dutch authorities have successfully dismantled what is considered the world's largest dark web marketplace with the arrest of alleged administrators of the notorious Bohemia and Cannabia marketplaces, which have been implicated in the trade of illegal goods, including drugs and DDoS tools.
The investigation, initiated in 2022, uncovered servers linked to these dark web souks in the Netherlands. The sites, described by Dutch Police (Politie) as the "largest and longest-running international dark web market of all time worldwide," reportedly facilitated approximately 67,000 monthly transactions. In September 2023 alone, these transactions generated a turnover of €12 million.
Dutch law enforcement officials believe the administrators profited around €5 million before attempting an "exit scam" in 2023, which involved shutting down the services and fleeing with the operation's funds.
However, their efforts to evade capture were thwarted due to an international collaboration among investigators from the Netherlands, Ireland, the U.K., and the U.S.
The operation culminated in the arrest of two suspected administrators. One individual was apprehended in the Netherlands and has already appeared in court in Rotterdam. The second suspect was detained in Ireland.
Stan Duijf, head of the operations unit of the National Investigation and Interventions, emphasized the impact of this investigation on the perceived anonymity of the dark web. "Administrators, sellers, and buyers of illegal marketplaces often believe themselves to be elusive to the police and the judiciary."
"By conducting criminal investigations and prosecuting these criminals, it becomes clear that the dark web is not at all as anonymous as users may think. Due to international cooperation, the credibility and reliability of these markets have once again been severely damaged," Duijf stated.
In August, the suspected leader of Reveton and Ransom Cartel cybercriminal groups was arrested after E.U. extradition, and two men, a Russian national and a Belarus national were also arrested in connection to "J.P. Morgan."
