EU police agency coordinates international raid on dark web

Amsterdam (dpa) – A global operation coordinated by the European Union’s Europol law enforcement agency against criminals using the dark web has resulted in 270 arrests in 10 countries, Europol reported on Thursday.

Officers in the United States, EU member states, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Switzerland seized more than 184 million Euro in cash and cryptocurrencies, more than 2 metric tons of drugs, more than 180 firearms, 12,500 counterfeit products and more than 4 tons of illegal tobacco.

“Known as Operation RapTor, this international sweep has dismantled networks trafficking in drugs, weapons, and counterfeit goods, sending a clear signal to criminals hiding behind the illusion of anonymity,” Europol said.

Of the 270 arrests, 130 were in the US, followed by Germany with 42 arrests.

Europol’s members include all 27 EU countries and it has more than 1,400 staff, according to its website. With its headquarters in The Hague, the agency’s mission is to prevent and combat international and organised crime, cybercrime and terrorism.

European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said: “This operation is proof of how criminal gangs operate today: offline and online, internationally and locally, using technology to their full advantage.”

Coordinated action of the kind provided by Europol was essential for countering this, Brunner added. (22 May)