Europol investigation busts 150 'high value' darknet vendors

r721 wrote: post #2

Europol press release: https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/150-arrested-in-... DoJ press release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-law-enforcement...

> Buying on the dark web comes with risks:

> Devices can be exposed to an array of malware ready to wreak havoc on the buyers’ data.

???

Re: Europol investigation busts 150 'high value' darknet vendors

#5

Post by Tenoke » Tue, Oct 26, 2021, 3:49 PM UTC

I can't help but think that the series of extremely big operations by a fair amount of countries, interpol and resources can't be worth catching 230kg of drugs (which includes a lot of weed) spread over 150 sesperate vendors. The crypto $ amount is also misleading as crypto has 10+x'd quite quickly.

I wish they'd go after the operations that actually hurt people. Hell, you can walk in plenty of places in Berlin (and it's often German authorities in the lead) and spot much worse dealers than those selling online.

Re: Europol investigation busts 150 'high value' darknet vendors

#6

Post by upofadown » Tue, Oct 26, 2021, 3:50 PM UTC

Scoundreller wrote: post #4

r721 wrote: post #2

Europol press release: https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/150-arrested-in-... DoJ press release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-law-enforcement...

> Buying on the dark web comes with risks: > Devices can be exposed to an array of malware ready to wreak havoc on the buyers’ data. ???

Yeah, if this was possible, why are the authorities not doing it to catch buyers?

Re: Europol investigation busts 150 'high value' darknet vendors

#7

Post by Tenoke » Tue, Oct 26, 2021, 3:52 PM UTC

Scoundreller wrote: post #4

r721 wrote: post #2

Europol press release: https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/150-arrested-in-... DoJ press release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-law-enforcement...

> Buying on the dark web comes with risks: > Devices can be exposed to an array of malware ready to wreak havoc on the buyers’ data. ???

Modern marketplaces don't even use js (and some don't work if you have js enabled) and I expect a higher chance of malware on random clearnet sites..

Re: Europol investigation busts 150 'high value' darknet vendors

#8

Post by kiba » Tue, Oct 26, 2021, 3:55 PM UTC

Tenoke wrote: post #5

I can't help but think that the series of extremely big operations by a fair amount of countries, interpol and resources can't be worth catching 230kg of drugs (which includes a lot of weed) spread over 150 sesperate vendors. The crypto $ amount is also misleading as crypto has 10+x'd quite quickly. I wish they'd go after the operations that actually hurt people. Hell, you can walk in plenty of places in Berlin (and…

My question is why we keep doing the same thing while expecting something to improve.

It's not like law enforcement hadn't heard of criticism against the drug wars before.

Re: Europol investigation busts 150 'high value' darknet vendors

#9

Post by Scoundreller » Tue, Oct 26, 2021, 4:02 PM UTC

Tenoke wrote: post #7

Scoundreller wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Buying on the dark web comes with risks: > Devices can be exposed to an array of malware ready to wreak havoc on the buyers’ data. ???

Modern marketplaces don't even use js (and some don't work if you have js enabled) and I expect a higher chance of malware on random clearnet sites..

[flagged]

Re: Europol investigation busts 150 'high value' darknet vendors

#10

Post by Melting_Harps » Tue, Oct 26, 2021, 4:06 PM UTC

kiba wrote: post #8

Tenoke wrote: post #5

I can't help but think that the series of extremely big operations by a fair amount of countries, interpol and resources can't be worth catching 230kg of drugs (which includes a lot of weed) spread over 150 sesperate vendors. The crypto $ amount is also misleading as crypto has 10+x'd quite quickly. I wish they'd go after the operations that actually hurt people. Hell, you can walk in plenty of places in Berlin (and…

My question is why we keep doing the same thing while expecting something to improve. It's not like law enforcement hadn't heard of criticism against the drug wars before.

> My question is why we keep doing the same thing while expecting something to improve.

An existential dilemma: these institutions need to justify their budgets and positions. So, headlines are the currency they trade in and this 'high value' bust results in good PR for their agencies/departments, but still imparts low value to Society over all.

It's quite clear their are bigger fish to fry if the goal was to reign in on illicit dealings, be it from the Panama papers to the Paradise papers it's clear that illicit trafficking of funds is done not with Cryptocurrency on the DNM, but rather through traditional institutional banks.

But, the selective application of the Law and a tiered justice system ensures that laundering money for cartels is met soley with a fine, whereas charges like hosting a website (SR1/ Ross Ulbricht) can get you 2 life sentences.