The Dutch police have conducted a groundbreaking takedown of Bohemia and Cannabia, the world’s largest and most enduring dark web market known for facilitating illegal goods, drugs, and cybercrime services.
Following a collaborative investigation involving authorities from Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the takedown marks a significant milestone in combating cybercrime on the dark web.
The marketplace ceased its operations in late 2023 amid reports of service disruptions and exit scams triggered by a rogue developer, as confirmed by one of its administrators.
Bohemia reportedly facilitated 82,000 ads daily worldwide, with a monthly transaction volume of 67,000 transactions. The estimated turnover in September 2023 alone was €12 million, showcasing the scale of illegal activities conducted on the platform.
“Some sellers on the market advertised shipping from the Netherlands, resulting in at least 14,000 transactions valued at €1.7 million originating from the country,” highlighted the Politie.
As part of the takedown operation, the Dutch police successfully identified and apprehended two administrators and seized two suspects, along with confiscating two vehicles and cryptocurrency totaling €8 million.
In the words of Stan Duijf, head of the National Investigation and Interventions operations unit, “By pursuing criminal investigations and prosecuting these individuals, we are debunking the myth of anonymity on the dark web and disrupting the credibility of such illegal markets.”
The recent arrest of a 28-year-old Ukrainian man for operating a VPN service to access the Russian internet in violation of sanctions further underscores the global crackdown on cybercrime.
The service, expanding over 48 million IP addresses and initiated post-Russo-Ukrainian war, employed servers in multiple countries, affirming the transnational nature of cyber offenses.
The enforcement actions against Bohemia and Cannabia, alongside the VPN operator’s arrest in Ukraine, paint a vivid picture of international efforts to combat cybercrime and preserve the integrity of the digital landscape.
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