October 11, 2024 at 02:27AM
Dutch police have dismantled Bohemia and Cannabia, the largest dark web market, following an international investigation. Launched in late 2022, operations ceased in 2023 after internal issues. Authorities arrested two suspects and seized €8 million in cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian hacker was arrested for operating a VPN accessing the Russian internet.
### Meeting Takeaways – October 11, 2024
1. **Takedown of Major Dark Web Marketplaces**:
– Dutch police announced the takedown of **Bohemia** and **Cannabia**, described as the world’s largest dark web markets for illegal goods and services.
– This operation was a collaborative effort involving law enforcement from **Ireland**, **the United Kingdom**, and **the United States**, initiated in late 2022.
– Bohemia had ceased operations in late 2023 due to service disruptions and exit scams.
2. **Market Activity**:
– Bohemia reportedly handled **82,000 ads** daily with around **67,000 transactions** per month, generating an estimated turnover of **€12 million** in September 2023.
– At least **14,000 transactions** valued at **€1.7 million** were traced from the Netherlands.
3. **Arrests and Seizures**:
– Authorities identified several administrators, resulting in the arrest of two suspects (one in the Netherlands and the other in Ireland).
– Two vehicles and cryptocurrency worth **€8 million** were confiscated.
4. **Commentary on Dark Web Anonymity**:
– Stan Duijf, from the National Investigation and Interventions, emphasized that the dark web is not as anonymous as users believe, citing the effectiveness of criminal investigations and international collaboration.
5. **Related Arrests in Ukraine**:
– Ukrainian authorities arrested a 28-year-old for operating a VPN that allowed access to the Russian internet, defying sanctions.
– The VPN used more than **48 million IP addresses** and was run from an apartment-based server room with additional servers in several European countries.
6. **Sentencing Related to Cyber Attacks**:
– Two individuals linked to the Russian cyber threat group **Armageddon** were sentenced to **15 years in prison in absentia** for cyberattacks against Ukrainian government entities.
### Action Items:
– Continue to monitor developments in cybercrime and dark web activities.
– Explore implications of the dark web’s operational vulnerabilities on cybersecurity strategies.