150 arrests made in darknet drug operation

WASHINGTON — Justice Department officials announced Tuesday the arrests of 150 people and the seizure of more than $30 million in an international investigation targeting drug trafficking on the darknet.

The sweep led to arrests in the United States, Great Britain, Germany and other countries, law enforcement officials said.

In addition to seizing $31 million in cash and digital currency, investigators also seized 45 handguns, Justice Department officials said.

“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have turned to the darknet than ever before to buy drugs,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco told reporters.

Monaco said investigators focused particular attention on darknet vendors who were minting counterfeit pills that contained potentially fatal doses of fentanyl, methamphetamines and other illegal drugs. The darknet, an encrypted version of the Internet that requires special tools to navigate, is a popular marketplace for illicit goods.