DOJ: Crackdown on dark web drug trafficking results in 150 arrests, 1 in Buffalo

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team and Europol said Tuesday its crackdown on dark web drug trafficking resulted in 150 arrests.

The 10-month program called Operation Dark HunTor targeted trafficking across the United States, Australia, and Europe.

The dark web is a collection of hidden internet websites only available on a specialized, anonymous web browser called Tor.

The DOJ says altogether, the operation resulted in the seizure of more than $31.6 million in cash and virtual currencies, more than 500 pounds of drugs worldwide and 45 firearms, as well as 65 arrests in the United States, one in Bulgaria, three in France, 47 in Germany, four in the Netherlands, 24 in the United Kingdom, four in Italy and two in Switzerland.

"We are here to expose those who seek the shadows of the internet to peddle killer pills worldwide," said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.

Now, federal prosecutions are underway in more than 15 federal districts, including in the Western District of New York.

The DOJ shared the criminal complaint filed in Buffalo against Leonard Abramov during the Operation Dark HunTor press conference.

That complaint alleges Abramov attempted to obtain 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine with the intention of selling, and possessed marijuana with the intent to sell it.

Prosecutors say he led them to a drug trafficking ring that was selling drugs to University of Buffalo students and on the dark web.

The full complaint is below (mobile users, click here):

Leonard Abramov by News10NBC on Scribd