The United States and Europe have shut down the world's largest dark web drug market operating through Monero (XMR).

2025-06-18 01:49:16

Gate News bot message: According to a press release on June 16, international law enforcement agencies dismantled one of the largest and longest-running dark web crime markets in the world, arresting a person suspected of operating in Germany in Spain, and seizing millions in illegal assets.

This crackdown was coordinated by the Frankfurt Prosecutor’s Office, the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany (BKA), the National Police of Spain, the National Police of the Netherlands, and other partners from Sweden and Romania, targeting an illegal platform called “Archetyp Market.”

On June 11, a 30-year-old German citizen was arrested by the Spanish police tactical unit at his residence in Barcelona.

The prosecutor accused him of jointly operating Archetyp Market with other moderators, engaging in large-scale trafficking of drugs including amphetamines, marijuana, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.

Investigators estimate that the website’s sales exceed 250 million euros (267 million USD), with approximately 17,000 active listings, over 612,000 customer accounts, and about 3,200 registered vendors.

The transactions on this website rely entirely on Monero (XMR), a privacy-focused cryptocurrency favored in dark web trading.

The police searched the suspect’s apartment in Barcelona and properties located in Hanover, Germany, and Bucharest, Romania. The police seized 8 mobile phones, 4 computers, 34 storage devices, and assets worth approximately 7.8 million euros (8.3 million US dollars).

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