Security News > 2023 > May > Police operation 'SpecTor' arrests 288 dark web drug vendors and buyers

An international law enforcement operation codenamed 'SpecTor' has arrested 288 dark web vendors and customers worldwide, with police seizing €50.8 million in cash and cryptocurrency.

"The vendors arrested as a result of the police action against Monopoly Market were also active on other illicit marketplaces, further impeding the trade of drugs and illicit goods on the dark web."

Operation 'SpecTor' used the collected evidence to target high-volume vendors and buyers of darknet marketplaces who sold drugs and firearms to other users in exchange for cryptocurrency.

Most of the arrested vendors and buyers, who Europol says engaged in tens of thousands of sales of illicit goods, resided in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Germany, while the Netherlands and Austria also counted 10 and 9 arrests respectively.

The recent law enforcement operation was coordinated by Europol and the FBI, and involved police in the UK, France, Poland, Germany, Austria, Brazil, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The arrests make 'SpecTor' more successful than previous operations like 'DisrupTor' in 2020, which had 179 arrests, and 'Dark HunTor,' which resulted in busting 150 darknet vendors.

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https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/police-operation-spector-arrests-288-dark-web-drug-vendors-and-buyers/