In one of the biggest crackdowns on illegal online drug sales, a massive dark web marketplace called Archetyp has been shut down. This website was used for more than five years to sell illegal drugs, including very dangerous ones like fentanyl.
The platform wasn’t a small operation. It had around 3,200 sellers and over 600,000 registered users. These users came from all over the world and used the hidden site to buy and sell drugs secretly. It’s estimated that around 250 million euros worth of drugs were traded on this platform. That’s more than the cost of many large city hospitals.
Archetyp was one of the few websites that allowed users to sell synthetic opioids, which are very powerful and extremely risky. These kinds of drugs can be deadly even in small doses. Despite the danger, Archetyp had about 17,000 different listings for drugs when it was taken down.
The Secret Uncovered and Global Action
The person who created and ran Archetyp is a man from Germany who had been living in Spain. Thanks to detailed investigations and strong teamwork between countries, the authorities were able to track him down. Investigators used clues from digital files, bank records, and the movement of money online to figure out where he was, as well as where the website’s servers were located.
Authorities didn’t work alone. The effort was led by Eurojust and Europol, two major European law enforcement agencies that help countries work together on big crimes. They coordinated a huge action week from June 11 to June 13. This wasn’t just one country acting on its own—officers in five different countries were involved, with around 300 police officers taking part.
During this special week of action, the police made eight arrests. One of them was the man behind the site. The others included people who helped run the platform—such as moderators and major drug sellers. Officers also found and shut down the servers that powered the website. All of this meant Archetyp was taken completely offline.
In total, the authorities seized 7.8 million euros in cash and assets connected to the illegal business. That includes items bought with drug money and money hidden away to keep it from being traced. This action seriously disrupted drug trafficking activities across Europe.
How the International Teams Worked Together
This complex investigation needed many different countries to work closely together. Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Romania were all part of the main team. Each country contributed its own police officers, prosecutors, and cybercrime experts. The United States also supported the mission, helping to track data and share information.
Eurojust played a key role in organizing everything. It helped the different countries talk to each other, share important information, and make sure everything moved quickly and legally. The agency also helped with things like legal documents and making sure police in different countries could work together without delay.
Europol helped from the very start by analyzing the digital trails left by the criminals. They found clues, matched information from different sources, and helped identify the main targets. On the days of the operation, Europol even set up a special virtual command center. This allowed all the countries involved to communicate instantly and make quick decisions in real time.
In Germany, Europol also sent a dark web expert to help local officers. This expert worked with them on the ground to ensure nothing was missed and all the technical parts of the operation were handled correctly.
By taking down Archetyp, police and investigators dealt a serious blow to illegal drug sellers who thought they were safe hiding behind screens and fake names. But through patient investigation and strong international teamwork, one of the darkest corners of the internet has now been shut down.
