"Crimenetwork" is history
How the BKA and the public prosecutor's office smashed the online trade in stolen data, drugs and forged documents. The police have carried out a major raid on the largest German-language online marketplace for illegal goods and services. The "Crimenetwork" platform had long been a center for criminal business, from stolen data to drugs and forged ID documents. Now the platform is history - and the alleged head of technology is in custody.
A criminal empire on the darknet: "Crimenetwork" as a hub for illegal business
"Crimenetwork" was no ordinary online platform. It functioned as a central marketplace for criminal transactions on the Darknet and had over 100,000 users. Stolen data, drugs and forged documents were mainly traded on this platform. But not only that - the processing of illegal transactions was also highly organized. The platform took a commission of one to five percent for sales and charged monthly fees for advertising and sales licenses. Payment was made almost exclusively in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Monero, which made investigations more difficult, but not impossible.
The arrest of the head of technology: the key to the success of the investigation
The investigation, which was led by the BKA and the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor General's Office, has now brought down the alleged administrator of the platform. A 29-year-old man, who was responsible for the entire IT infrastructure of "Crimenetwork" for years, has been arrested. The man, whose exact role and involvement in the platform still needs to be clarified, was brought before a magistrate and is now in custody. During the raid, not only were valuable data and evidence seized, but also assets amounting to around one million euros in cryptocurrencies and high-value vehicles.
Breaking into the structures of the underworld: what the investigators are up to now
By seizing transaction data and user data, the investigators hope to gain valuable information about other criminal structures and individuals behind "Crimenetwork". The arrest of the head of technology and the shutdown of the servers are a great success for the law enforcement authorities. But it remains to be seen how quickly these networks will regroup - because the black market on the Darknet is tough. Investigations are continuing and international law enforcement agencies, such as the Dutch police, are also helping to solve the case.
End of the line: the darknet black market is not invincible
What we see here is a huge lesson for all those who use the "safe haven" of the darknet for illegal business: The law has a long reach there too. But this case also shows how important it is for law enforcement to act not only reactively, but also preventively. Anyone who uses such platforms is not only living dangerously, but also runs the risk of their identity and transactions being exposed. But - and this is the crux of the matter - the operators of such platforms are not safe either. They cannot escape either. They are only one mistake away from being caught. And this time, that mistake came to light thanks to a combination of good investigative work and the right technical tools. A victory for the police, a setback for online crime. But the true success will only become apparent when the remaining networks in this area are also consistently closed down.
