German Police Shut Down 13 Darknet Drug Stores

In recent times, European law enforcement agencies have been intensifying their efforts, joining forces to crack down on darknet dealers selling drugs, weapons, and other illicit goods. German authorities, in particular, have been leading the way, with numerous reports on this topic emerging over the past month.

Major Operation Across Three German States

On December 7, 2017, in cooperation with the Central Office for Cybercrime and the Koblenz Public Prosecutor’s Office, 139 police officers conducted raids on apartments in Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia. The operation resulted in the shutdown of 13 darknet drug stores, as well as the arrest of store owners, couriers, and other network participants. These groups sold drugs both on the clearnet and darknet, serving over 2,000 customers.

In one district of North Rhine-Westphalia, police discovered more than 30,000 packaged units of various illegal substances. Five main suspects, believed to be the network’s ringleaders, were detained.

Details of the Investigation

According to the police press release, the main products trafficked by the group on the darknet were marijuana and amphetamines. On the clearnet, they sold so-called “bath salts” and “plant fertilizers.”

Police searched 12 apartments in connection with 10 suspected members of the drug trafficking organization. On December 8, four suspects were taken into custody: a 48-year-old from Duisburg, a 58-year-old from Oberhausen, and two men aged 29 and 39 from Altenkirchen.

During the raids, officers seized numerous computers, digital storage devices, and cell phones. They also confiscated packaging materials, ready-to-ship “bath salts,” and cash equivalent to about $3,000,000. The average price per package ranged from $15 to $30.

Financial and Legal Consequences

All bank accounts linked to these stores were frozen, including some held abroad. Police estimate the network processed around 100 orders per day. Authorities expect more arrests in the coming days and months as the investigation continues.

Germany is currently focusing on NPS (new psychoactive substances) dealers, as “synthetic psychoactive substances can be extremely dangerous,” according to the Koblenz prosecutor’s office. “In recent years, the number of deaths after their consumption in Germany has sharply increased, reaching 98 in 2016.”

The suspects face charges under the German Narcotics Act and the new German law on psychoactive substances.