March 1, 2024 at 11:47AM
German police have seized Crimemarket, the largest German-speaking illicit trading platform on the internet, resulting in the arrest of six individuals. This operation, which involved 102 simultaneous searches, targeted the platform’s operators and users, leading to the confiscation of evidence and assets. The investigation is ongoing, with law enforcement monitoring the site post-confiscation for further information gathering.
From the meeting notes, it is clear that the Düsseldorf Police in Germany have successfully shut down Crimemarket, the largest German-speaking illicit trading platform. The operation resulted in the arrest of six individuals, including the operator of the platform. This action followed years of investigations and simultaneous execution of 102 search warrants across the country, resulting in the seizure of narcotics, IT devices, and a significant amount of cash and movable assets. The focus of the operation was primarily in North Rhine-Westphalia, with additional arrests made in other federal states.
The police have indicated that the operation is not only targeting the operators of Crimemarket but also its users, and investigations are ongoing. There were accessibility issues reported by users earlier, which have now been confirmed to be caused by law enforcement actions, not technical problems. Despite the platform being seized, the site’s homepage remains available, but attempting to access any other page on the domain displays a seizure notice.
Additionally, the police may have strategically allowed the platform to remain active post-confiscation to gather further incriminating information from cybercriminals. It is evident that a significant law enforcement victory has been achieved through this operation.