Rui-Siang Lin, also known as Ruisiang Lin, 林睿庠, Pharoah, and faro, was apprehended at John F. Kennedy Airport on May 18 in connection with his alleged operation of “Incognito Market,” a major dark web narcotics marketplace.
Lin, 23, from Taiwan, is accused of facilitating anonymous global transactions of illegal narcotics through this platform. He is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willis in Manhattan federal court later today.
In response to the arrest, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said, “Drug traffickers who think they can operate outside the law on the dark web are wrong.” According to allegations, Rui-Siang Lin was the mastermind behind Incognito, a $100 million dark web operation that was designed to smuggle lethal narcotics into the US and other countries. The dark web is covered by the long arm of the law, and those who attempt to hide their crimes there will face consequences.
Incognito Market: A Detailed Allegation
Incognito Market, an online dark web platform, was launched in October 2020. It is alleged to have facilitated over $100 million in illegal narcotics sales, including hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamines. Accessible via the Tor web browser, Incognito Market offered a user-friendly interface where buyers could search and purchase a wide array of illegal drugs, including heroin, cocaine, LSD, MDMA, oxycodone, methamphetamines, ketamine, and alprazolam. It also sold misbranded prescription medications, some containing deadly substances like fentanyl.
Operating under the pseudonym “Pharoah” or “Faro,” Lin allegedly supervised all aspects of the marketplace, including employee management, vendor coordination, and customer service. The complaint asserts that he had ultimate decision-making authority over the multimillion-dollar operation.
The Southern District of New York’s U.S. Attorney, Damian Williams, reaffirmed the prosecution of dark web offenders, saying, “It is alleged that Rui-Siang Lin ran a hazardous and sophisticated online drug marketplace that brought in millions of dollars for him at the expense of the community. Whether they operate on street corners or in the shadowy corners of the internet, law enforcement partners and the committed prosecutors from the Southern District of New York will not stop in their pursuit of criminal actors. Those looking to flout the law will not find refuge in the so-called “dark web.”
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Global Reach and Sophisticated Operations
According to the indictment, Incognito Market integrated many features typical of legitimate e-commerce sites, such as branding, advertising, and customer support. Users could log in with a unique username and password, and browse thousands of narcotics listings. The platform’s functionality included a “bank” system where users could deposit cryptocurrency into personal accounts. Upon the completion of a transaction, cryptocurrency was transferred from the buyer’s to the seller’s account, minus a 5% commission for the market.
Law Enforcement’s Multi-Agency Effort
A coordinated operation by the FBI, HSI, DEA, FDA-OCI, and NYPD led to Lin’s arrest. “Over almost four years, Rui-Siang Lin purportedly managed ‘Incognito Market,’ identified as one of the prominent online hubs for narcotics distribution, facilitating approximately $100 million in illegal drug transactions and accruing substantial personal profits,” stated James Smith, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI New York Field Office.
Lin’s purported organization facilitated the global acquisition of deadly pharmaceuticals and counterfeit prescription medications, all while offering anonymity. All criminal companies, especially those whose leaders distribute illicit substances on the dark web, will be targeted and dismantled by the FBI.
“Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York stated that, as alleged, Rui-Siang Lin’s audacious operation led to the illicit sale of over $100 million in narcotics, including mislabeled drugs later found to contain deadly fentanyl.” The defendant’s purported effort at extortion in the closing days of the platform served as more evidence of his avarice and disdain for other people. Using state-of-the-art methods, the El Dorado Task Force’s Darkweb and Cryptocurrency Task Force goes after even the most cunning of online criminals.
HSI New York is unwavering in its resolve to shield the public from those who use risky tactics to further their financial gain, working in tandem with law enforcement partners. Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New York Division, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts, stating, “The apprehension of ‘Incognito Market’ owner Rui-Siang Lin underscores the ongoing partnership between the DEA and our law enforcement counterparts in combating individuals who exploit the dark web for the illegal sale of narcotics.”
In addition to being careless and harmful, Mr. Lin’s claimed actions of prioritizing profits over public health were also unethical. We’ll keep up our efforts to ensure that people who use the dark web to steal lives and hide behind a keyboard are held accountable.
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Impact and Legal Proceedings
The illicit activities allegedly conducted on Incognito Market have had significant public health implications, with many of the sold drugs being lethal or misbranded. Charles Grinstead, Special Agent in Charge of the FDA-OCI Kansas City Field Office, remarked, “The FDA remains steadfast in its dedication to disrupting and dismantling the unlawful drug trade on the dark web, where such activities frequently lead to devastating outcomes. Our commitment extends to monitoring, investigating, and prosecuting individuals who exploit the internet for financial gain, disregarding the severe risks posed to public health and safety.”
Lin is charged with serious offenses that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison for narcotics conspiracy, a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, a maximum sentence of 20 years for money laundering, and a maximum sentence of five years for conspiring to sell tainted and mislabeled medication. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan B. Finkel and Nicholas Chiuchiolo are handling the case on behalf of the Southern District of New York.
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which aims to uncover and dismantle high-level criminal groups, included the operations to eliminate Incognito Market.
Just an allegation constitutes an indictment. All defendants are deemed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
