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US Government Darknet Drug Raids Seize $6.5M in Cash and Crypto
The U.S. government announced the results of one of the biggest ever seizures of drugs sold on the dark web.
By Paddy Baker
Updated Sep 14, 2021, 9:59 a.m. Published Sep 22, 2020, 1:45 p.m.
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The U.S. government has made one of the biggest drug busts in history, with half a tonne of narcotics and millions of dollars in cash and cryptocurrencies taken from dealers that use the dark web.
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- The Department of Justice (DoJ) announced the results of Operation DisrupTor on Tuesday – calling it one of the largest attempts to combat criminal activity on the dark web, and in particular opioid trafficking.
- Over 500 kilograms of drugs were seized worldwide, as well as approximately $6.5 million held in both cash and cryptocurrencies.
- One particular bust saw the seizure of 111 kilograms of fentanyl, which Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray said was enough for approximately 5.5 million lethal doses.
- In total more than 170 arrests were made worldwide, including of Canadian citizen Arden McCann, who is alleged to be responsible for smuggling more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl and over 300,000 counterfeit Xanax pills into the U.S.
- Agencies including the Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security as well as international bodies Europol and Five Eyes all participated in Operation DisrupTor.
- At a press conference, DoJ Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said the operation had dealt a "powerful blow" to the criminal underworld.
Also read: US Treasury Sanctions Russians Using Crypto for Election Interference
EDIT (Sept. 23, 07:40 UTC): This article has been updated to clarify Jeffrey Rosen is a deputy attorney general of the Department of Justice.
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