By Michael Balsamo
Law enforcement officials arrested 179 people and seized more than $6.5 million in a worldwide crackdown on opioid trafficking on the darknet, the U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday.
The operation, which mainly occurred in the U.S. and in Europe, comes more than a year after officials took down the "Wall Street Market," which was believed to be one of the largest illegal online marketplaces on the darknet.
The darknet is a part of the internet hosted within an encrypted network and accessible only through specialized anonymity-providing tools, most notably the Tor Browser.
As part of the initiative, law enforcement officials seized over $6.5 million in cash and virtual currency, in addition to 500 kilograms of drugs, the Justice Department said. About 275 kilograms of drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and other opioids, had been seized in the U.S.
The arrests include 121 made in the U.S., two in Canada, 42 in Germany, eight in the Netherlands, four in the United Kingdom, three in Australia, and one in Sweden. The Justice Department said its investigation was ongoing and investigators were still working to identify other individuals behind darknet accounts.
Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said the takedown showed "there will be no safe haven for drug dealing in cyberspace."
Following the death of Matthew Perry last week, the foundation he wanted to launch has finally been created.
The story started as an accidental 911 call, but then it ended up in a hug. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's office in Florida responded to a 911 call from a young boy who wasn't facing any emergency. Instead, he was asking to give police a hug.
One of the world's rarest diamonds nicknamed Bleu Royal is set to be auctioned next week.
There could be such a thing as being too clean after heated debates on social media about how often you should shower. Dermatologists and other health experts are now weighing in, saying while showering every day is a must, some experts say it may not be good for your health to shower too often.
Mariah Carey, the 'Queen of Christmas,' is teaming up with Victoria's Secret for a new holiday collection.
A driver tried to crash through the exit gates of a South Carolina nuclear plant Thursday night about an hour after security asked the same car to leave when it tried to enter, authorities said.
68-year-old performs at nursing homes.
Wondering what to watch this weekend? This week we have everything from The Wiggles to the "Saw" franchise. Plus: the struggle to afford blueberries.
A former Southern California street gang leader pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder in the 1996 killing of rap music icon Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas — a charge prompted by his own descriptions in recent years about orchestrating the deadly drive-by shooting.
Fynn has gone viral for skateboarding and surfing but has an even more impressive day job: Helping children with autism and other disabilities.
