German Police Arrest Darknet Dealer With $3.5 Million Worth of Drugs
Since the shooting incident in Munich, German law enforcement agencies have launched initiatives to crack down on the “shadow trade” conducted over the internet. The “dark web” has become a new focal point for criminal investigations. Authorities have made numerous arrests of darknet users, both independently and in cooperation with international agencies. Over the past five to six months, German police have apprehended many drug and weapons dealers and continue to make progress in this area.
Major Arrest in Wuppertal
In the latest case on November 16, German police arrested a 29-year-old Dutchman accused of running an international drug business from his apartment. Police and prosecutors in the western city of Wuppertal reported finding 400 kilograms (about 880 pounds) of drugs during a raid, with an estimated street value of $3.5 million (3 million euros). The seized drugs included ecstasy, cannabis-infused chocolate, cocaine, and amphetamines.
Investigators stated that the 29-year-old dealer sold drugs via the darknet and shipped them by mail. He sent packages to Thailand, the United States, Australia, and EU countries. However, police did not disclose which specific darknet marketplace he used. Authorities are still investigating the source of the drugs and whether others are involved in the operation. It is possible that law enforcement intercepted a shipment from a supplier and traced it back to the dealer.
According to a spokesperson for Frankfurt customs, Germany has seen a 232% increase in drug shipments sent by mail, while the total amount of drugs intercepted by customs at Frankfurt Airport has risen by 182%.
Other Recent Darknet Arrests in Germany
Earlier this year, on May 31, six people were arrested in a special operation (SEK) in Aachen for selling drugs on the darknet. The arrests followed an investigation initiated by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and later handed over to the Aachen prosecutor’s office. Since the fall of 2015, the suspects allegedly sent at least 20 kilograms of amphetamines, worth at least 160,000 euros, to customers using the national postal service. After the arrests, authorities seized computers and several kilograms of amphetamines.
On September 19, former Green Party politician Boris J. was arrested by law enforcement for allegedly running an illegal drug operation on the darknet. Since October 2013, he had been selling drugs on various darknet marketplaces. Investigators searched his apartment and found evidence of 6,500 individual darknet sales, including more than 34,000 ecstasy tablets and about 7,000 LSD vials.
Earlier this year, German authorities also arrested five men who operated the “Chemical Love” darknet shop on the Valhalla marketplace. Police found 54 kilograms of amphetamines, 1.3 kg of cocaine, 4 kg of heroin, and 25,000 ecstasy tablets in the basement of one of the suspects. According to prosecutors, the men made over 1,500 sales totaling about 1.3 million euros.
Increased Focus on Darknet Crime
The heightened attention and large number of investigations into darknet drug dealers in Germany have been strongly motivated by the Munich shooting, as the shooter purchased his weapon from a deep web vendor. The methods used by German authorities to catch dark web users appear to be effective, given the results achieved so far.