In Bavaria, scenes like those in the Netflix series “How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)” have unfolded. So police officers have probably been able to bust one of the largest darknet marketplaces for drugs and other illegal items. The suspected operator, who is just 22 years old, is now in custody.
Marketplace in the Darknet with 16,000 users and 72 dealers
In the tranquil town of Landshut in Lower Bavaria, police have arrested a 22-year-old student who allegedly operated a gigantic online marketplace for drugs and other illegal items. The marketplace, called “Germany on the Deep Web,” which had been accessible on the darknet, went online in 2018 and served as a sales platform for 72 dealers. They were then able to sell primarily drugs to a total of 16,000 registered users. The online store is not a newcomer in the field of illegal marketplaces on the darknet.
- Also interesting: DarkMarket: Largest illegal darknet marketplace in the world excavated
Thus, “Germany on the Deep Web” is rather a continuation of an online store on the darknet, which gained sad notoriety in 2016. Through this platform, namely, an 18-year-old was able to buy a firearm, with which he carried out a rampage in a Munich shopping center. The operator at the time has already been sentenced to prison. When the now arrested 22-year-old took over the platform, he concentrated from then on the distribution of drugs. By the way, the student is not a new face for the authorities. Thus, according to statements by the police, he probably already attracted attention in 2019. There he hacked into the network of his school at the time.
- Also interesting: Hydra Market: world’s largest darknet marketplace shut down by BKA
Hardware seized
As part of the arrest, the police have of course also been able to seize lots of hardware. This includes, in addition to a PC and lots of hard drives probably also several phones of which the accused made use. An appropriate procedure against the 22-j?hrigen was introduced in the meantime. The reproach reads “operating a criminal commercial platform in the Internet”. The threat of punishment should not please the student at all. In the worst case, ten years’ imprisonment may be possible.
