14 DAY TRIAL // Authorities have apprehended a number of 8 individuals from the United States, Netherlands and Argentina, suspected of operating an online drug market that relied on the online anonymity system known as TOR to hide its activity.
According to Wired, the drug dealers processed more than 5,000 orders from which they gained around $1 million (750,000 EUR).
The market was similar to those used by carders, profit-driven hackers who commercialize credit card details. The suspects made sure that only individuals who appeared to be trustworthy could purchase or sell LSD, marijuana, ecstasy and other illegal drugs.
While some of the transactions were merely intermediated by the suspects, it seems that part of the merchandise may have been sold directly from their own crops, because during the raids law enforcement representatives found indoor marijuana and psychotropic mushroom grows.
In 2006, when the business was launched, Marc Willems from the Netherlands, the mastermind of the scheme, and his right hand man, Argentinian Michael Evron, relied on Hushmail. At the time, the company offered encrypted email services and many believed that it didn’t collaborate with law enforcement agencies.
In 2010 they moved to TOR to ensure that their operations wouldn’t easily be discovered.
It’s uncertain if investigators managed to gather any evidence during the time the group used TOR for anonymity. However, a large part of the information on which the prosecution will rely in this case is based on data obtained between 2007 and 2009 when the defendants utilized Hushmail services.
The suspects are charged with drug trafficking and money laundering, some of them also being accused of participation in a continuing criminal enterprise and LSD distribution. For their crimes, they may receive maximum prison sentences between 20 years and life.
Note. My Twitter account has been erroneously suspended. While this is sorted out, you can contact me via my author profile or follow me at @EduardKovacs1