Security News > 2020 > September > FBI boasts of dark-web drug bust: 179 collared around the world, $6.5m in cash and 500kg of narcotics seized

A nine-month international operation spearheaded by the FBI has led to the arrest of 179 people across the world for selling drugs on the dark web.

Operation DisrupTor, announced on Tuesday, also resulted in the seizure of $6.5m in cash and cryptocurrency as well as a 500kg haul of illegal drugs and 63 guns.

"The arrest of 179 of them in seven countries - with the seizure of their drug supplies and their money as well - shows that there will be no safe haven for drug dealing in cyberspace."

Just as importantly, the operation again saw law enforcement across multiple departments and in multiple countries coordinate together, denying online drug sellers a long-held advantage.

He went on: "Operation DisrupTor took place at a particularly critical time, as our country has seen a sharp rise in overdoses associated with potent narcotics during this pandemic. In just one case alone, the work of the JCODE task force led to the seizure of over 11 kilograms of suspected fentanyl associated with a dangerous drug trafficking organization operating in a small town in Ohio." That single seizure is the equivalent of 5.5 million lethal doses, he explained.

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https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2020/09/23/fbi_dark_web_drug_bust/