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German and Spanish authorities dismantle revived Crimenetwork darknet marketplace and arrest operator

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German authorities, with support from Spanish National Police, dismantled a revived version of the Crimenetwork darknet marketplace and arrested its 35-year-old German operator in Mallorca, Spain. The platform, a relaunch of the previously seized Crimenetwork, generated over €3.6 million in revenue, hosted 22,000 users and 100+ vendors, and facilitated the trade of illicit goods and services. Approximately €194,000 in allegedly illicit assets were seized alongside user and transaction data. The arrest follows the initial dismantling of Crimenetwork in late 2024, during which the original administrator was charged and subsequently sentenced in March 2025 to seven years and 10 months in prison and €10 million in forfeiture.

Timeline

  1. 10.05.2026 17:16 1 articles · 1h ago

    Crimenetwork marketplace revived and dismantled within months of initial takedown

    A new iteration of the Crimenetwork darknet marketplace was launched shortly after the original platform’s seizure in December 2024. The revived platform achieved rapid adoption with 22,000 users and over 100 vendors, generating at least €3.6 million in revenue. Spanish and German authorities arrested the German operator in Mallorca on May 7, 2026, seizing €194,000 in allegedly illicit assets and obtaining user and transaction data for further investigation.

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Information Snippets

  • The revived Crimenetwork darknet marketplace was administered by a 35-year-old German national, arrested in Mallorca, Spain, under a European arrest warrant issued by German authorities.

    First reported: 10.05.2026 17:16
    1 source, 1 article
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  • The platform generated at least €3.6 million in revenue and amassed 22,000 users and over 100 vendors within a short period after relaunch.

    First reported: 10.05.2026 17:16
    1 source, 1 article
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  • German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Public Prosecutor's Office in Frankfurt am Main, and Central Office for Combating Cybercrime (ZIT) were involved in the operation.

    First reported: 10.05.2026 17:16
    1 source, 1 article
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  • Approximately €194,000 in allegedly illicit assets were seized during the operation, alongside substantial user and transaction data.

    First reported: 10.05.2026 17:16
    1 source, 1 article
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  • The arrested administrator faces charges under Section 127 of the German Criminal Code and Sections 29a and 30a of the German Narcotics Act.

    First reported: 10.05.2026 17:16
    1 source, 1 article
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  • The original Crimenetwork administrator was sentenced in March 2025 to seven years and 10 months in prison and ordered to forfeit over €10 million in criminal proceeds.

    First reported: 10.05.2026 17:16
    1 source, 1 article
    Show sources