In a dramatic global takedown, authorities launched Operation RapTor, arresting 270 people across 10 countries and seizing a jaw-dropping $200 million in cash and crypto ๐ธ. The operation targeted massive drug networks operating through the dark web, where cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero are often used to buy and sell illegal drugs anonymously. โ ๏ธ Led by the U.S. Department of Justice and Europol, this is now the biggest dark web bust in history under the DOJโs J-CODE initiative.
๐ Agents confiscated over two metric tons of drugs, including 144 kilograms of deadly fentanyl-laced substances, along with 180 firearms and stacks of illegal digital cash ๐๐ซ. Two of the largest illegal marketplaces โ Nemesis and Incognito Market โ were shut down, and their operators, including Iranian national Behrouz Parsarad, now face serious charges. These platforms were secretly moving drugs and laundering the profits using crypto wallets, trying to stay one step ahead of law enforcement.
Despite this huge news, the crypto market didnโt even flinch. Bitcoin $BTC is still holding strong above $110K ๐ก๐. However, experts say this bust signals a new wave of global regulation and digital tracking. Tools are getting smarter, and privacy coins like Monero may soon face extra pressure. Officials warn that crypto is now a central tool for global trafficking, especially in synthetic drug trade linked to dangerous cartels and Chinese chemical suppliers.
๐ฅ One wild stat? Blockchain data shows at least $5.5 million in stablecoins were used to pay Chinese fentanyl suppliers, and 97% of chemical vendors in China accept crypto! ๐คฏ Crypto has become the go-to for black markets, and even messaging platforms like Telegram are cracking down, recently shutting down Haowang Guarantee, a digital black market linked to $27 billion in fraud across Asia. As enforcement heats up, the message is clear: No more hiding behind screens. The crypto crime chase is ON. ๐ฎโโ๏ธ๐๐ฅ