December 21, 2023 at 05:15AM
German law enforcement has shut down the dark web platform Kingdom Market, which sold narcotics and malware to tens of thousands of users. The operation involved authorities from the U.S., Switzerland, Moldova, and Ukraine. The site operated since March 2021, selling over 42,000 products. A person connected to the site has been charged with identity theft and money laundering in the U.S.
Key takeaways from the meeting notes:
– A dark web platform called Kingdom Market, known for selling narcotics and malware, was disrupted by German law enforcement in collaboration with authorities from the U.S., Switzerland, Moldova, and Ukraine.
– Kingdom Market operated since at least March 2021 over TOR and I2P networks, selling illegal narcotics, advertising malware, criminal services, and forged documents.
– Approximately 42,000 products were sold on the platform through several hundred seller accounts.
– Transactions were facilitated using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Monero, and Zcash, with the operators receiving a 3% commission.
– The operators of Kingdom Market are suspected of illicit trafficking in narcotics, and the investigation into the seized server infrastructure is ongoing.
– Alan Bill, also known as Vend0r and KingdomOfficial, has been charged in the U.S. with identity theft and money laundering in connection to Kingdom Market.
– The dismantling of the BlackCat ransomware’s dark web infrastructure also took place recently.
If you need further details or specific analysis on any aspect, feel free to ask.