Archetyp Market, a major player in the underground dark web drug trade, has been shut down by European authorities following a years-long investigation.
Europol confirmed that law enforcement agencies across Europe successfully dismantled Archetyp Market, calling it “the most enduring dark web marketplace.”
The operation was a joint effort involving six countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. With support from Europol and Eurojust, coordinated actions took place between June 11 and 13 across five of these countries. The operation targeted the market’s administrator, moderators, key vendors, and technical infrastructure. Europol reported that 300 officers were involved in the mission to gather critical evidence.
As a result, the platform’s infrastructure, located in the Netherlands, was dismantled. A 30-year-old German citizen, believed to be the administrator, was arrested in Barcelona, Spain.
In addition, Germany and Sweden took action against one moderator and six vendors, seizing assets worth €7.8 million (approximately $9 million).
According to Europol, this effort marked the end of a criminal network that enabled the anonymous trade of large quantities of illegal drugs such as cocaine, MDMA, amphetamines, and synthetic opioids. The takedown sends a clear warning to other dark web drug marketplaces, showing that authorities can successfully disrupt even the most well-established platforms by following financial trails and examining digital evidence.
A seizure notice has now been posted on the former Archetyp Market site.
This platform held a notorious reputation, similar to other dismantled dark web drug markets. For those familiar with sites like Silk Road and Dream Market, Archetyp Market stood out as another major name.
The marketplace operated for over five years and built a customer base exceeding 600,000 users worldwide, according to Europol’s recent statement.
Its success was likely due to its unique offerings, as Archetyp Market was among the few dark web sites that sold highly potent opioids such as fentanyl. During its run, the platform generated an estimated €250 million (roughly $290 million) in revenue.
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