International law enforcement successfully dismantles dark web criminal marketplace "Archetyp Market" relying on XMR for transactions

ChainCatcher news, according to CryptoSlate, an international law enforcement operation successfully dismantled "Archetyp Market," one of the world's largest darknet criminal markets. The platform is estimated to have generated over 250 million euros (approximately 267 million USD) in sales, relying entirely on the privacy cryptocurrency Monero ($XMR) for transactions.

The operation was coordinated by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor's Office in Germany, the German Federal Criminal Police Office, the Spanish National Police, and the Dutch National Police. On June 11, the Spanish police tactical unit arrested a 30-year-old German ringleader in Barcelona. The police seized 8 mobile phones, 4 computers, 34 storage devices, and assets valued at approximately 7.80 million euros (8.30 million USD). Germany and Sweden also conducted further coordinated actions against vendors associated with the market, with seven suspects arrested in Sweden. The main suspects will face charges under German law for operating a large-scale drug trafficking network.