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Discussion => Security => Topic started by: German Kraut on April 17, 2012, 04:25 pm

Title: Police bust online narcotics 'Farmers Market'
Post by: German Kraut on April 17, 2012, 04:25 pm
Original Thread
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1195684/1/.html

LOS ANGELES: US authorities on Monday announced the bust of an online narcotics "Farmers Market" where people around the globe could buy LSD, ecstasy and other illicit substances.

Fifteen people were arrested as the result of a two-year-long investigation code-named "Project Adam Bomb" and involved law enforcement in Scotland, Columbia, the Netherlands and the United States, the US Justice Department said in a statement.

"The drug trafficking organization targeted in Operation Adam Bomb was distributing dangerous and addictive drugs to every corner of the world, and trying to hide their activities through the use of advanced anonymizing online technology," said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) acting special agent in charge Briane Grey.

Eight men named in a criminal indictment were suspected of operating a "Farmers Market" online storefront that allowed suppliers to advertise narcotics and consummate deals with shoppers.

Six of the alleged "conspirators" lived in the United States, with a seventh being a US citizen living in Argentina.

Marc Willems, 42, was described as the "lead defendant" in the case and was taken into custody on Monday at his home in the Netherlands, officials said.

The eight men face drug trafficking and money laundering charges "stemming from their creation and operation of a secret online narcotics marketplace" that brokered sales of the substances in 24 countries, according to the Justice Department.

In addition to the eight men named in the indictment, authorities arrested seven others -- two more in the Netherlands, and five in the United States -- involved in the case.

Officials said the virtual marketplace provided order forms, online forums, customer service, delivery guarantees, even mainstream payment tools including PayPal and Western Union.

Market operators purportedly charged commissions based on values of orders.

Approximately US$1.04 million worth of drug sales were processed at the online market between January 2007 and October of 2009, according to investigators.

The online drug market was said to have thousands of registered users, and investigators identified customers in every US state as well as in 34 other countries.

The drug menu at the market reportedly included mescaline, LDS, ecstasy, and high-end marijuana.

Farmers Market, which was named "Adamflowers" when the operation launched, operated on a TOR network of encrypted Internet connections and relays crafted prevent websites and digital communications from being traced.

"Illegal narcotics trafficking now reaches every corner of our world, including our home computers," said US attorney for the Central District of California Andre Birotte, whose office is handling prosecution of the case.
Title: Re: Police bust online narcotics 'Farmers Market'
Post by: chronicpain on April 17, 2012, 04:55 pm
Wow.... I never  even heard of this group... 2 years or more of investigation? Using TOR? Looks like the main things that really didnt help were using WU and paypal... very sobering reality, that's for sure...
Title: Re: Police bust online narcotics 'Farmers Market'
Post by: Prawl42 on April 17, 2012, 05:25 pm
scarey thought, but it does make you wonder how many sites like this there are on tor
Title: Re: Police bust online narcotics 'Farmers Market'
Post by: German Kraut on April 18, 2012, 06:56 am
Another German Thread about this story ...

http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/netzpolitik/0,1518,828039,00.html

Translation:
Also the use of the camouflage technology gate protected eight operators of a commercial platform for unlawful drugs not against the access of the US justice. After on-line shops with customers all over the world lifelong prison sentences could come up to the defendants.

They had hidden so well. With the help of the TOR Hidden Service gate a group of eight drug dealers veiled her identity and organized under the name ' The Farmer's Market ' lucrative trade with various narcotics like LSD and ecstasy. Between January, 2007 and October, 2009 they served according to the accusation more than 5200 orders to the value of more than a million dollars. More than 3000 names from 35 lands were on the customer list. Besides, the operators offered a polished customer management, including on-line forums, Internet orders, customer care and at least four different possibilities for the payment, under it also to PayPal.

Investigators of anti-drug authority DEA got onto the drug dealers in the course of a two-year-old action called ' operation of Adam Bomb '. Although the suspects tried to be hidden by the use of the gate project and also used other possibilities for the IP-Anonymisierung, the officials succeeded in tracing back her e-mail traffic up to 2006. In which way the authorities went forward, besides, nevertheless, it does not arise from the 66-asided plaint presented on Monday specifically. Among the rest, the gate project also counts as important tools for the protection of dissidents who want to use unnoticeably the Internet in dictatorial states.

The collaboration of officials from several lands, under it Colombia, the Netherlands and Scotland also led to the arrest of the defendants now. The prime suspect was arrested on Monday in the Dutch Lelystad. Already on Sunday the handcuffs clicked for an American with the attempt to leave from Colombia. The remaining ones were settled in different US federal states.

In the accusation conspiracy is accused of eight men to drug trafficking and monetary laundry. In case of a conviction each of them must count on a lifelong prison sentence.

Gladly about the success explained the inquiry leader: ' The today's action should send to the organizations which use technology on the realization of criminal activities the clear message that the DEA and other criminal proceedings authorities will track down them and bring in court. '
Title: Re: Police bust online narcotics 'Farmers Market'
Post by: kmfkewm on April 18, 2012, 07:09 am
Tor is also used by dissidents in the USA to protect themselves from Nazi agencies such as DEA and FBI
Title: Re: Police bust online narcotics 'Farmers Market'
Post by: cannetic on April 18, 2012, 08:23 pm
Wow.. I am very surprised to hear about this. To any TFM vendor who could possibly be roaming our forums, I wish you well. This is another case of why GPG should be used though. Pretty sure their communication and order forms were not encrypted. TOR by itself isn't cutting it anymore ladies and gentlemen.

EDIT:

I would expect there is an ongoing operation to remove this site as well. Seriously, step up your security measures.