17 arrests due to flipped Agora seller "weaponsguy"

"Four Australians charged in international illegal firearm sting" (2015-05-14; emphasis added):

...The investigation focused on the trade of illegal firearms via the 'dark web' by a US-based seller using an online alias to a worldwide client base, including Australian-based buyers.

In September 2014, the HSI investigation led to the identification of a 33-year-old man in Montana for the operation of the online alias account. The operation began when ACBPS passed relevant information to HSI. In September 2014, HSI agents commenced a covert operation using the online alias account. This covert operation, which was conducted worldwide, identified suspected Australian-based users attempting to illegally purchase firearms from the undercover covert account. In November 2014, HSI and the AFP commenced a joint operation targeting these users. Intelligence gained from the covert account led to the controlled delivery of six parcels to addresses in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. These controlled deliveries resulted in the execution of 15 search warrants in February and March. Four illegal firearms, ammunition, two clandestine laboratories, precursor chemicals, methamphetamines, pseudoephedrine, steroids, computer equipment and mobile telephones were seized....On a global level, the operation led to 17 arrests across the United Kingdom, Europe and North America. These arrests resulted in the further seizures of firearms, ballistic armor, illicit drugs and USD$80,000 in bitcoins.

In April, I identified "weaponsguy" as a flipped seller and his Agora account was then banned; note that weaponsguy lines up with the date of Moreira's case, the rare firearms product type matches, the location (Montana) matches, the date the account was flipped (September 2014) is before when weaponsguy had to have been flipped (November 2014 or earlier), Australian buyers of firearms from US sellers have been busted in the past, Bitcoins and the dark web are specifically mentioned, and the account is said to have been operated by United States Homeland Security Investigations which I believe the ATF would fall under. (I am not sure why it has taken so long for this press release to come out when the UC account has been useless for a month.)

So we can increase the toll from 1 known case (Moreira in Massachusetts) to 16 unknowns & 17 total (4 Australians, and an unknown mix of 1-10 Americans, 1-10 UKers, and 1-10 Europeans).

People: stop trying to buy guns and poisons. Seriously. It's not going to end well.

Thanks to my anonymous tipster yesterday.


Comments


[56 Points] Sockopuppto:

I really wish they wouldn't sell weapons on the same DNM you buy drugs from. It just adds unnecessary heat; and I don't even blame governments on cracking down on this sort of thing as they SHOULD crack down on illegal weapons trading.


[19 Points] Smokeyz:

Called it! But thank you gwern, you did all the hard work

/r/DarkNetMarkets/comments/31sx56/weaponsguy_is_possible_le_on_agora/


[16 Points] krokodiltear:

One of these days, someone's going to get the "Successfully purchase a gun off the darknet" achievement award, I just know it.

Just keep grinding it out boys, they can't all be undercover LE agents or scammers.


[12 Points] deepdot:

some pics of the weapons:

http://edge.alluremedia.com.au/uploads/businessinsider/2015/05/QLD-guns.jpg

http://edge.alluremedia.com.au/uploads/businessinsider/2015/05/QLD-guns-31.jpg


[14 Points] None:

[deleted]


[6 Points] valuum:

Who the fuck would try to get a gun sent through customs, that's just begging for the ol' pistola case


[4 Points] Hellokittycustomer:

Fucking rediculous. Not as many people buy guns on the markets. Not saying it doesn't happen, but not as commons as drugs. I feel like guns are more serious here, and there being less buyers leads it to just be to risky. I mean look. Hsi conducted a global scale operations and executed 17 cd's.. That's a lot of heat!


[6 Points] ShulginsCat:

stop trying to buy guns and poisons

I can't stop. I'm addicted.


[3 Points] TotesMessenger:

This thread has been linked to from another place on reddit.

If you follow any of the above links, respect the rules of reddit and don't vote. (Info / Contact)


[4 Points] Battyhole:

If you can't get a gun irl you don't need a gun


[3 Points] holecloud:

People: stop trying to buy guns and poisons. Seriously. It's not going to end well.

You may think it's bullshit people, but they really have dudes out there, feeling people out, and seeing if they bite, and it's not entrapment. There are real life fuckers like the X Files that look for weird motherfucking chinese guys wearing gloves when at the post office, and their number one concern is a mass casualty even, which guns and fucking extremely deadly POISON tend to do.


[3 Points] gaffer17754:

From day one on the markets I was told one simple rule Don't buy weapons on the markets, they take that shit so much more seriously than drugs...


[3 Points] u3565572:

"In September 2014, the HSI investigation led to the identification of a 33-year-old man in Montana"

flip, rat & entrap

someone fucked up their OPSEC...


[1 Points] None:

Can i buy a switchblade on the DNM's?? Anyone willing to post a switchblade to Europe? Curious.


[1 Points] RosyPalm:

.... operated by United States Homeland Security Investigations which I believe the ATF would fall under.

ATF is still under the Justice Department.


[1 Points] None:

But what if we aussies just wanna kill some shit? It's almost winter and there's going to be fuck all to do


[1 Points] sillysally11:

I never even considered buying a weapon over a DNM, it's just so stupid, so risky. I also feel like I'd have a better chance of getting a gun in person, if I even wanted one.


[1 Points] jf1777:

Great job Gwern... I've been following this for months and this is an astounding revelation, to say the least. It's brought to another level considering this information wasn't released until recently!


[1 Points] simplemindedslut:

I think we understand each other pretty well


[1 Points] None:

how am i supposed to be a gansgter without a gun?????


[1 Points] needarms:

HSI acting special agent in charge of HSI Newark Kevin Kelly said the joint international law enforcement operation should serve as a warning to those who capitalize from the use of underground websites.

A whole point of such operations - terror.

Let's better see how much resources you have to systematically fight this "problem", and how long you can tyrannize innocent people, till they want to make a warning of you.


[1 Points] Tyria_Ansul_Harvesta:

People: stop trying to buy guns and poisons. Seriously. It's not going to end well.

Gwern, you are a statesman of the DNM. If we ever get our own nation, you need to be part of our creation myth.


[1 Points] gwern:

Joseph Cox got some more details from the Aussies http://motherboard.vice.com/en_uk/read/dark-web-guns-bust-over-a-dozen-arrested-in-undercover-operation :

The suspects are all male, including a 25-year-old from Liverpool, New South Wales, a 26-year-old from Gladstone, Queensland, and a 24-year-old and 25-year-old from the Australia Capital Territories, an AFP spokesperson told Motherboard. The two men from the Australia Capital Territories will appear in court on 25 June.

(Nothing about the overseas arrests from HSI or NCA, and they're still not commenting on the market/seller, as if it wasn't totally obvious that it's Agora/weaponsguy.)


[1 Points] jimmihendrix222:

trying to import guns into Australia through the post your got rocks in your head, it's hard enough trying to get a box of cigars from the usa without the tax collecting big headed , arrogant fucking customs cunts finding them and slapping them with all their cunting duties , let alone firearms, international parcels go through a metal detector as soon as their unloaded and set aside for checking if they sound off so I'm fucked if I know how they were doing it, but it seems the pig was involved right from the start.


[-3 Points] sweetjingle:

I don't think its very smart getting weapons from darknet. The governments of the world are going to be way more focused on weapons that pose a threat to other people (if you can't legally buy a gun, you probably don't need one) than drugs.


[-6 Points] DownVoteMeYahAsshole:

I hope he enjoys prison. I hope everyone that's sells, and everyone that buys guns gets a good little timeout in jail. We don't need to kill to solve our differences.

Buy a few variations of the taser and you're set.

Que dope dealers telling me they need their guns. I'm sure you do, I hope you go to jail.