International dark web FBI sting launched 'to send a message'

A new global police operation against dark web marketplace users identified thousands of individuals last month, signaling unprecedented international cooperation between dozens of major law enforcement agencies across three continents. The operation was designed to spotlight law enforcement's long arm extending into the digital underground.

"This is to send a message," an FBI spokesperson told CyberScoop.

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The new sweep of international identifications, arrests, and the creation of a flashy website on the dark web was meant to grab attention and make headlines this week. The FBI in particular hoped to echo and amplify the message sent by Director James Comey in 2015 when he told Congress that criminals who use Tor to hide from the FBI are "kidding themselves."

Instead, repeated American election controversies involving the FBI stole the spotlight, so that almost nothing else out of the bureau has received any media attention in recent days. That's how a press-savvy international police operation involving hundreds of investigations went largely unnoticed when it was first made public earlier this week.


Comments


[9 Points] None:

Nice try LEO, halloween was three days ago..


[8 Points] KigurumiCatBoomer:

Pathetic. The FBI just comes off as desperately trying to scare people.


[5 Points] None:

"Kidding themselves". Most people aren't kidding when they recieve drugs in the mail! LEO acts like they're gonna catch everybody!


[4 Points] FuzzyLittleCalico:

I respect that the police and fbi are trying to protect the public, but this isn't protection. This is tyranny. This is a violation of human rights; the right to determine what you put into YOUR body in order to alter YOUR brain state or consciousness.

People, keep in mind that at the core of this issue lies YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY (i.e., your body, mind, consciousness..). And NO ONE has the right to decide what you do to it as long as you're not harming anyone in your experiments with it... Sort of like getting a tattoo or an ear-piercing; it's no one elses business.


[3 Points] bobbiggs69:

Did anyone here get visited by their country's version of these slime bags?


[2 Points] JaysouneHorn:

Trick or treat lol


[2 Points] DrReeferDNM:

"A new global police operation against dark web marketplace users identified thousands of individuals last month"

Oasis?


[1 Points] None:

Wonder if those posts that have been popping up regarding phone calls from the FBI have anything to do with this..


[1 Points] why_areyouso_sad:

blah blah blah

fuck em'


[1 Points] rogeranon:

I don't understand this move by the FBI, other than being jealous of the big busts in europe. If their goal was to "send a message", the message sent was, "If the FBI find out you're buying drugs online, you'll get a stern warning.". Also they sent the message that the FBI in incredibly inept at DNM busts. They've been saving these up so they can make a big splash like every year, yet they could only come up with ~700 names?

The operation was worldwide. They were able to bust a ton of customers in sweden, because police there had just taken down 6 of the biggest swede vendors, and apparently had saved cleartext names and addresses. We all know germany is going after lots of buyers.

Where the FBI got their list, who knows? The few posts about people being called by the feds did seem to be about very old purchases, so maybe these are orders from the SR or SR2(more likely) busts.

Last article I read said the FBI had contacted over 600 people, many of them admitted buying drugs on the DNM, but the FBI charged none of them. It makes me think they have some list of DNM customers that has a dirty chain of custody, or is bad evidence in some way.

The FBI really wanted to be a part of the Operation, but I don't think they have the evidence to charge anyone. The warning calls from the FBI are weird as fuck, though. They even said they got people to admit to buying on the darknet, and didn't charge those people.

Maybe it's an issue of resources, darknet cases must be expensive to prosecute. I doubt you can convict a darknet buyer/vendor without expert testimony from someone to explain the darknet, bitcoins, etc. That "expert" will be a cop of some kind, but I'm sure they have a serious lack of police/feds that understand this stuff enough to explain it to the prosecutor and then a jury of people too stupid to get out of jury duty.


[1 Points] MrWhoopass:

“This is to send a message,” an FBI spokesperson told CyberScoop.

I wonder how many 1000's of new darknet users these media articles created. Well done FBI. Just like when busting SR1 made the darknet business explode.


[1 Points] youheree:

Its funny because they are just fighting eachother.

Gov guy 1 we need tor we use that shit Gov guy 2 crime drugs durrrr do it for the kids

Gov guy 3 holy fuck I am being paid a lot of money. Look at all tgis influence I have. I better brew a shitstorm that only I can solve before someone realizes my position holds no purpose and is not needed.

Gov guy 4 anyone need a lightbulb changed"