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Operation Dark HunTor

{{Short description|Multinational operation against opioid trafficking}}

{{Primary sources|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox law enforcement operation

|name = Operation Dark HunTor

|type = Drug Enforcement

|executed_by=Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

|countries_number = 12

|target =Dark Markets: Dream, Wallstreet, White House, DeepSea, Berlusconi, Dark Market

|objective = To disrupt opioid trafficking and other illegal activities occurring through the Onion Service "Dark Market" with the goal to hunt down the vendors, buyers, and suppliers who had been hiding on that site and make sure they did not find a new platform

|date_executed = January 2021

|arrested_number = 151

}}

Operation Dark HunTOR was an international law enforcement operation targeting opioid trafficking and other illegal activities on The Onion Router (TOR). The operation was conducted across the United States, Australia, and Europe over a period of 10 months.{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-law-enforcement-operation-targeting-opioid-traffickers-darknet-results-150|title=Office of Public Affairs | International Law Enforcement Operation Targeting Opioid Traffickers on the Darknet Results in 150 Arrests Worldwide and the Seizure of Weapons, Drugs, and over $31 Million | United States Department of Justice|date=October 26, 2021|website=www.justice.gov}}{{cite web |author1=Ariana Ramirez |title=CHIEF POSTAL INSPECTOR DISCUSSES OPERATION DARK HUNTOR |url=https://www.uspis.gov/press-release-operation-dark-huntor |website=United States Postal Inspection Service Press Releases |publisher=US Government |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=27 October 2021}}{{cite web |title=ICE HSI supports extensive international operation targeting Darknet opioid traffickers |url=https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-hsi-supports-extensive-international-operation-targeting-darknet-opioid |publisher=U.S.A. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Cyber Crimes |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=1 November 2021}}

In addition Europol released a statement that said the operation was composed of a series of separate but complementary actions in Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, with coordination efforts led by Europol and Eurojust; which greatly expands on the initial number of countries that the US press releases indicated.{{cite web |author1=Europol Press Release |title=EUROPOL: 150 Arrested In Dark Web Drug Bust |url=https://i-aml.com/news/europol-150-arrested-in-dark-web-drug-bust/ |website=Israel Anti-Money Laundering |publisher=i-aml Ltd. |access-date=24 January 2024 |language=English |date=26 October 2021}}

The name of the operation is a portmanteau of "hunt" or "hunter" and Tor, an open-source anonymity network that is often used to access the dark web.

Methodology

According to US court documents a "variety" of methods were used, to corroborate the trafficking of drugs through the USPS mail system. One such method used was "controlled buys" of drugs from the dark market sites and then working to trace the sale back to the source mail box.

While many TOR related multinational coordinated operations have relied on sophisticated technological attacks, malware and hacking on the part of the government, review of these cases have yet to reveal a technological method used to deanonymize any users of the TOR markets.

The methods remain of extreme interest to the civil rights and cyber community as to the methodology that used by the various agencies to identify the location of the server or the users. Without an undercover agent tricking the users into giving up their protected information, or sloppy information management once again on behalf of the perpetrators few methods are available when all that is trafficked is data and not physical objects that must be transported physically and not electronically.

Legality

The U.S. Government and other partnering governments has been secretive in their transparency regarding this operation. U.S. law enforcement agencies as do other national agencies have some restrictions on what they are allowed to do outside the nations borders, especially without judicial or legislative approval. Additionally, law enforcement agencies generally require an agreement in the form of a Mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to operate in any specific country other than their own granting special permissions. Any public release, review or audit of the MLATs or MOUs associated with this operation remain unpublished as of 1/2024.

Results

  • The arrest of 151 alleged Darknet drug traffickers and other criminals across several countries, including Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • Seizures amounting to over $31.6 million in cash and virtual currencies.{{cite web |title=International Law Enforcement Operation Targeting Opioid Traffickers on the Darknet Results in 150 Arrests Worldwide and the Seizure of Weapons, Drugs, and over $31 Million |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-law-enforcement-operation-targeting-opioid-traffickers-darknet-results-150 |website=Office of Public Affairs Press Release |publisher=Department of Justice |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=26 October 2021}}
  • Approximately 234 kilograms of drugs were confiscated globally, including significant quantities of amphetamines, cocaine, opioids, MDMA, and other drugs, as well as counterfeit medicines.
  • The seizure of 45 firearms.[https://www.uspis.gov/press-release-operation-dark-huntor Chief Postal Inspector Discusses Operation Dark HunTor – United States Postal Inspection Service]
  • The operation involved identifying Darknet vendor accounts and linking them to real individuals involved in illegal activities across both active and inactive Darknet Marketplaces, such as Dream, WallStreet, White House, DeepSea, Berlusconi, and Dark Market.

=Country-specific results=

  • Bulgaria – 1 arrest
  • France – 3 arrests
  • Germany – 47 arrests
  • Netherlands – 4 arrests
  • United Kingdom – 24 arrests
  • Italy – 4 arrests
  • Switzerland – 2 arrests
  • United States – 65 arrests[https://www.justice.gov/opa/documents-and-resources-october-26-2021-press-conference See list of arrests here]

Participating law enforcement agencies

* indicates a non governmental organization

See also

References

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Dark HunTor

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Category:Tor (anonymity network)

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