Finnish authorities have taken down the website and seized the servers of the darknet marketplace “Sipulitie,” which is used by criminals to sell illegal drugs.
According to the Finnish Customs announcement, the illegal market catered to both Finnish and English-speaking users. The operator is said to have earned more than 1.3 million euros (about 1.42 million dollars).
The operation to crack down on the darknet market “Sipulitie” was made possible thanks to an international collaboration involving Finnish Customs, Europol, Swedish police, Polish authorities and researchers from cybersecurity company Bitdefender.
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Sipultie began operations in February 2023, after the shutdown of “Sipulimarket” by law enforcement authorities. Sipulimarket had earned more than two million euros since it began operations in April 2019.
After the removal, the same administrator created the Sipultie marketplace, as well as a separate chat, called Tsätti, to facilitate the sale of drugs (in 2022).
Authorities stopped the operation of both the Sipultie market and the Tsätti platform and placed a banner on the website informing visitors about the crackdown.
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The director of Finnish customs, Hannu Sinkkonen, confirmed the seizure and added that the main operator, coordinators and users of the market have been identified . Arrests may be announced soon .
After the takedown of Hydra , the world's largest darknet drug marketplace, criminals turned to smaller, local platforms or even mobile apps.
However, law enforcement investigations and operations continue to disrupt smaller markets as well. In March 2024, German police seized the infrastructure of the Nemesis, which had been facilitating drug sales since 2021.
In May 2024, the alleged owner and operator of Incognito Market was arrested in New York.
Earlier this month, Dutch police arrested the operator of the Bohemia/Cannabia drug market .
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These operations are significant victories in the fight against illegal online markets, but the problem remains large. These underground sites are constantly evolving and adapting, making it difficult to completely eliminate them. As soon as one market closes, another appears in its place. Constant vigilance, international cooperation and the use of sophisticated technologies to stay ahead of the criminals operating on the dark web.
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Only through a combination of these efforts can we hope to have a significant impact and reduce the harm caused by illegal online activities. The fight against illegal drug and darknet markets in general must continue. With each new operation and arrest, we are getting closer to creating a safer online environment for everyone. It is important that authorities remain committed to this goal and continue to work together to dismantle these criminal networks.
Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com
