WASHINGTON D.C. (AP) — In a coordinated international operation, the FBI and Europol announced today the dismantling of “Obsidian,” one of the largest illegal marketplaces on the dark web.
Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the operation, codenamed “Blackout,” resulted in the seizure of servers in three countries and the arrest of six administrators. The site was allegedly used for the trafficking of stolen data, counterfeit goods, and illegal hacking tools.
“This strikes a major blow to the infrastructure of cybercrime,” Garland said. “Criminals cannot hide behind encryption.” Authorities have also seized approximately $45 million in cryptocurrency associated with the site.
