.png)
German authorities successfully closed down the illegal marketplace known as Crimemarket after a four-year investigation. In collaboration with Dutch law enforcement, around a hundred searches were carried out at the end of February, resulting in the seizure of the website.
Described by the North Rhine-Westphalia police as the largest illegal trading platform in the country, Crimemarket.is facilitated the sale of various illegal items, including drugs, counterfeit documents, weapons, and manuals for committing cybercrime or fraud. Authorities suspect that visitors also traded weapons and child pornography using crypto coins as payment.
Initially targeted by German police in 2020, efforts to identify the individuals behind Crimemarket.is have been ongoing for years. Following the recent searches on February 29, several arrest warrants have been issued, with more arrests expected to follow.
The German police press release prominently features the logo of the Dutch police, indicating collaboration between the two entities. The extent of Dutch involvement and any resulting actions in the Netherlands remain unclear at this time.
English (US)