Dutch Authorities takendown world’s largest dark web market

Dutch authorities have successfully dismantled Bohemia/Cannabis, the world’s largest and longest-running dark web marketplace.

This operation marks a critical milestone in the fight against illegal online activities, particularly those involving drugs and cybercrime services.

International Cooperation and Arrests

The investigation into Bohemia/Cannabia was spearheaded by the High Tech Crime Team of the National Investigation and Intervention Unit under the National Public Prosecution Service.

The operation was a collaborative effort involving law enforcement agencies from Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The Dutch police had been monitoring the market since late 2022, uncovering that several of its servers were located in the Netherlands.

Two key administrators of Bohemia/Cannabia have been arrested. A 20-year-old British national was apprehended at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam and appeared in court in Rotterdam.

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old Irish suspect was detained by Irish authorities. During these arrests, over €8 million in virtual currency was seized, highlighting the scale of financial transactions facilitated by the marketplace.

Bohemia/Cannabia Market Operations

Launched in 2021, Bohemia/Cannabia quickly became a prominent platform on the dark web, primarily offering drugs with a focus on cannabis products.

The marketplace also featured advertisements for cybercrime services such as malware and DDoS attacks. At its peak, Bohemia/Cannabia hosted approximately 82,000 advertisements daily and facilitated around 67,000 transactions monthly.

In September 2023 alone, the market recorded a turnover of €12 million.

The market’s activities were not limited to drugs; it also included counterfeit items like identification cards and banknote forgeries.

Despite its extensive operations, technical issues eventually led to an ‘exit scam’ by the administrators, who divided the market’s funds among themselves before its closure at the end of 2023.

Impact on Dark Web Activities

The takedown of Bohemia/Cannabia has sent ripples through the dark web community.

It underscores that despite the perceived anonymity of such platforms, law enforcement agencies can effectively track and dismantle these operations through international cooperation and advanced investigative techniques.

The Dutch police continue to investigate further leads and have not ruled out additional arrests related to Bohemia/Cannabia’s operations.

This successful operation serves as a warning to other dark web marketplaces and highlights the ongoing efforts to combat cybercrime worldwide.

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