Archetyp Market Disrupted Following Coordinated European Law Enforcement Action

A recent large-scale law enforcement operation has successfully dismantled Archetyp Market, which was the longest-running drug marketplace operating on the dark web. Coordinated actions across six nations, including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, and Sweden, occurred between June 11 and 13. This extensive initiative, named Operation Deep Sentinel, involved the collaboration of Europol, Eurojust, and U.S. authorities, utilizing around 300 officers to take the platform offline, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of approximately €7.8 million ($9 million) in assets.

Archetyp Market had been active for over five years, catering to a global user base exceeding 600,000. The platform facilitated transactions totaling more than €250 million (around $429 million) and boasted over 17,000 listings, which included highly dangerous synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—substances increasingly linked to overdose fatalities across Europe and other regions.

During the operation, authorities detained the 30-year-old German administrator of the site in Barcelona. Law enforcement agencies in Germany and Sweden also targeted a moderator and six leading vendors associated with the marketplace. The site’s technical infrastructure, located in the Netherlands, was dismantled entirely.

This shutdown signifies a pivotal moment in the fight against online drug trafficking. Archetyp Market was notorious for its anonymous trade of high-risk substances, putting it on par with infamous dark web platforms like Silk Road and Dream Market. The severity of this operation was underscored by comments from Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, Europol’s deputy executive director of operations, who stated, “With this takedown, law enforcement has taken out one of the dark web’s longest-running drug markets, cutting off a major supply line for some of the world’s most dangerous substances. By dismantling its infrastructure and arresting its key players, we are sending a clear message: there is no safe haven for those who profit from harm.”

The operation followed extensive investigations into Archetyp Market’s network and operations, which involved tracking financial transactions, analyzing forensic evidence, and collaborating closely with international partners to identify the individuals behind the marketplace. Ongoing investigations may lead to further arrests and prosecutions, highlighting the importance of transnational collaboration and targeted technical expertise in effectively combating such criminal activities.

As part of the operation’s conclusion, a seizure notice has been placed where the marketplace once operated, alongside a message aimed at those engaged in the underground economy.