Record Seizures, Arrests after Operation Targets Internet Opioid Trafficking
A global operation to fight fentanyl and other drug trafficking on the dark web, resulted in the arrests of nearly 300 people and the seizure of 850 kilograms of drugs.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) says 288 people were arrested worldwide, including 153 in the U.S., in the 18-month long Operation SpecTor. That’s the most arrests ever for a Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) Operation. Such operations aim to dismantle darknet marketplaces that sell opioids, other drugs and other illegal items.
“Our message to criminals on the dark web is this: You can try to hide in the furthest reaches of the internet, but the Justice Department will find you and hold you accountable for your crimes,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in a news conference announcing the outcome of the operation.
Agents also seized 850 kilograms of drugs including 64 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced narcotics, $53.4 million in cash and cryptocurrencies and 117 firearms. The seizures were also greater than any prior JCODE operation.
The investigation spanned three continents and included help from eight countries and Europol, which seized a dark web marketplace known as “Monopoly Market.”
Public Safety Campaign
Law enforcement also ran a public awareness campaign called Operation ProtectTor that aimed to promote public safety and spread awareness about substance abuse.
That included identifying people who are purchasing such drugs online and reaching out to them.
During the operation Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) deployed agents around the country to confront buyers of darknet drugs and warn them about the dangers of purchasing the products, especially as dealers were cutting the drugs with potentially deadly fentanyl doses.
“Users never know which pill may be their last,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate.
Broader Efforts to Curb Fentanyl
Operation SpecTor is part of a broader effort by U.S. law enforcement agencies to curb fentanyl trafficking.
Through the first six months of fiscal year 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized about 13,900 thousand pounds of fentanyl. That’s compared to 14,700 pounds in all of FY 2022.
CBP uses surge operations and other tools to increase the amount of fentanyl intercepted.
The Biden Administration also recently released a new strategy to crack down on fentanyl supply chains.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there were over 80,000 opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2021, compared to 47,600 in 2017. Deaths involving primarily fentanyl rose to more than 70,000 in 2021.