Another blow against darknet crime: "Crimenetwork" taken down again
In an internationally coordinated operation, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Frankfurt am Main General Public Prosecutor's Office - Central Office for Combating Internet Crime (ZIT) - have shut down the relaunched illegal online marketplace "Crimenetwork". The suspected operator, a 35-year-old German citizen, was arrested in Mallorca by Spanish special units.
The platform had gone back online just a few days after the original version was shut down in December 2024. This time, however, with a completely new technical infrastructure, but under the same name "Crimenetwork".
The scale of the criminal activities
The platform that has now been shut down had developed into a significant trading hub for illegal goods and services. At the time of the takedown it had more than 22,000 registered users and more than 100 active sellers. The offering covered a broad spectrum of criminal goods:
- Stolen data
- Narcotics
- Forged documents
- Other illegal services
In their investigations, law enforcement authorities were able to prove total platform turnover of more than 3.6 million euros. Transactions were handled exclusively via cryptocurrencies, in particular Bitcoin, Litecoin and Monero.
The platform's business model
The suspected operator profited from the platform through an elaborate commission system. He received both commission payments for handling sales and monthly fees from sellers for advertising and sales licences. During the current investigative measures, the authorities seized assets worth around 194,000 euros directly connected with "Crimenetwork".
Legal classification and charges
The arrested German national faces serious criminal charges. The main charge is operating criminal trading platforms on the internet under § 127 of the German Criminal Code. In addition, he is accused of trafficking in narcotics in significant quantities under §§ 29a and 30a of the German Narcotics Act.
The legal consequences of darknet crime are becoming ever clearer: the suspected operator of the original "Crimenetwork" version was already sentenced in March 2026 by the Gießen Regional Court to seven years and ten months' imprisonment. The court additionally ordered the confiscation of criminal proceeds amounting to more than ten million euros.
Significance for the security industry
The renewed success against "Crimenetwork" shows the growing effectiveness of international law enforcement in cyberspace. Important insights emerge for security companies and operators of sensitive facilities:
Data theft as a lucrative business
Among other things, the platform traded in stolen data, which underlines the importance of robust security measures. Companies should continuously review their protection concepts and adapt them to evolving threat situations.
International investigative success
The case demonstrates successful cooperation between German, Spanish and Moldovan law enforcement authorities. This international cooperation, supported by Eurojust, makes clear that cybercriminals can no longer feel safe, even if they operate their servers in different countries.
Prevention recommendations
Organisations can draw important lessons from this case for their own protection:
- Regular review of IT security measures
- Raising staff awareness of cybercrime threats
- Implementation of multi-layered security concepts
- Continuous monitoring of suspicious activity
Facilities holding valuable data or cash in particular should regularly evaluate their security precautions and upgrade them where necessary.
Outlook and progress of the investigation
The data seized during the operation provides investigators with valuable leads for further work. With the extensive user and transaction data, the criminal structures behind the platform can be uncovered further. As the platform's customers are predominantly located in German-speaking countries, further investigative proceedings can be expected.
Carsten Meywirth, Director at the Federal Criminal Police Office, emphasised: "The relaunch of Crimenetwork has failed and another administrator will have to answer before a German court. On the darknet too, together with our national and international partners, we consistently enforce applicable law."
For former users of the platform, the authorities have set up a dedicated website at www.bustedagaincrime.network that provides further information and makes one thing clear: law enforcement on the darknet is becoming ever more effective.
The "Crimenetwork" case impressively shows that cybercrime does not pay and that international cooperation in combating internet crime is increasingly successful.
