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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) says it has successfully dismantled one of the largest known Canadian dark web drug trafficking operations.
The RCMP executed several search warrants, which led to the seizure of 75 kilograms of various narcotics, including cocaine, MDMA, meth, heroin and ketamine, it said in a news release Thursday.
Police also seized 10,000 prescription and non-prescription pills, electronic devices and drug distribution materials, including “RoadRunna” branded packaging.
According to the news release, data analytics found that “RoadRunna” is a sophisticated Canadian criminal enterprise that shipped approximately 400 packages weekly across the country.
Seven people, primarily based in the Greater Toronto Area, were arrested and charged with varying counts of trafficking and conspiracy to traffic, the RCMP said in the news release.
“Criminals are finding increasingly sophisticated and modern ways to evade the law, but we will continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these types of networks,” Insp. Nicole Noonan said in the news release.
The multi-agency investigation, primarily conducted by the RCMP’s serious and organized crime unit in Milton, Ont., started when German authorities took down a dark web marketplace and contacted the RCMP to make them aware of several Canadian-based users.
The dark web is an encrypted and hidden interface, which is not accessible by common search engines, the RCMP said in the news release.
Dark web like a ‘flea market’ for criminals, expert says
Daniel Tobok, the CEO of Toronto-based cybersecurity firm Cypfer, said the dark web accounts for a large portion of global internet infrastructure and acts like a “flea market for criminals to conduct their commercial crimes and illicit activities.”
Criminals will often use cryptocurrency on the dark web in an to attempt to conceal identities and financial trails, the RCMP said in its release.
Tobok said that’s why an investigation like this requires a lot of collaboration.
“There’s a lot of groundwork … that goes into this type of operation. Usually it’s not just a local or regional matter, it’s a global matter,” he said.
“There’s got to be somebody who’s very proficient in technology, security and forensics to go and be able and track these people.”
Ryan Duquette, a digital forensics expert and partner at EY Canada who used to work in law enforcement himself, says police are putting a lot of resources toward taking down marketplaces on the dark web, but it can be a bit like playing whack-a-mole.
“Other marketplaces will take advantage of this and they might have an increase in traffic to their marketplace,” he said.
And that traffic isn’t difficult to get, he says.
“Getting on the dark web is not challenging,” he said. “These types of marketplaces have been around for a long, long time.”
Cybersecurity and technology analyst Ritesh Kotak, who also started in policing, says the network taken down by the RCMP-led investigation is likely just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to illicit activity on the dark web.
“Unfortunately it’s so simple to create a website on this browser, be able to hide your traffic and set up shop,” he said.
“The ease of use and the fact it could be available to anyone makes it very lucrative and really simple to access.”
However, he said the bust is still an important achievement.
“You’re taking one down, two are popping up, but you’re making a dent when it comes to taking illicit activity off the internet and just making [it] a safer place,” he said.
“We’re able to get drugs off the street and shut down a marketplace.”
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Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) says it has successfully dismantled one of the largest known Canadian dark web drug trafficking operations.
The RCMP executed several search warrants, which led to the seizure of 75 kilograms of various narcotics, including cocaine, MDMA, meth, heroin and ketamine, it said in a news release Thursday.
Police also seized 10,000 prescription and non-prescription pills, electronic devices and drug distribution materials, including “RoadRunna” branded packaging.
According to the news release, data analytics found that “RoadRunna” is a sophisticated Canadian criminal enterprise that shipped approximately 400 packages weekly across the country.
Seven people, primarily based in the Greater Toronto Area, were arrested and charged with varying counts of trafficking and conspiracy to traffic, the RCMP said in the news release.
“Criminals are finding increasingly sophisticated and modern ways to evade the law, but we will continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these types of networks,” Insp. Nicole Noonan said in the news release.
The multi-agency investigation, primarily conducted by the RCMP’s serious and organized crime unit in Milton, Ont., started when German authorities took down a dark web marketplace and contacted the RCMP to make them aware of several Canadian-based users.
The dark web is an encrypted and hidden interface, which is not accessible by common search engines, the RCMP said in the news release.
Dark web like a ‘flea market’ for criminals, expert says
Daniel Tobok, the CEO of Toronto-based cybersecurity firm Cypfer, said the dark web accounts for a large portion of global internet infrastructure and acts like a “flea market for criminals to conduct their commercial crimes and illicit activities.”
Criminals will often use cryptocurrency on the dark web in an to attempt to conceal identities and financial trails, the RCMP said in its release.
Tobok said that’s why an investigation like this requires a lot of collaboration.
“There’s a lot of groundwork … that goes into this type of operation. Usually it’s not just a local or regional matter, it’s a global matter,” he said.
“There’s got to be somebody who’s very proficient in technology, security and forensics to go and be able and track these people.”
Ryan Duquette, a digital forensics expert and partner at EY Canada who used to work in law enforcement himself, says police are putting a lot of resources toward taking down marketplaces on the dark web, but it can be a bit like playing whack-a-mole.
“Other marketplaces will take advantage of this and they might have an increase in traffic to their marketplace,” he said.
And that traffic isn’t difficult to get, he says.
“Getting on the dark web is not challenging,” he said. “These types of marketplaces have been around for a long, long time.”
Cybersecurity and technology analyst Ritesh Kotak, who also started in policing, says the network taken down by the RCMP-led investigation is likely just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to illicit activity on the dark web.
“Unfortunately it’s so simple to create a website on this browser, be able to hide your traffic and set up shop,” he said.
“The ease of use and the fact it could be available to anyone makes it very lucrative and really simple to access.”
However, he said the bust is still an important achievement.
“You’re taking one down, two are popping up, but you’re making a dent when it comes to taking illicit activity off the internet and just making [it] a safer place,” he said.
“We’re able to get drugs off the street and shut down a marketplace.”
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