Police in 14 countries arrested 354 people and seized large quantities of drugs, firearms and cash in a global operation against “dark web” networks, US and European officials said on Thursday.
The operation, codenamed TorNado, was coordinated by Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency. It ran from May 2025 to October 2026 and involved hundreds of police raids around the world.
Most of the arrests were made in the United States, with 132, followed by Britain with 59, Hungary with 45, Germany with 41 and France with 23.
According to Europol, authorities in the US seized more than 4.8 tonnes of drugs, 152 firearms and 150 million euros in cash and cryptocurrency. In Europe, nearly one tonne of controlled substances was seized, mainly amphetamines, ketamine, MDMA, cocaine and cannabis.
Christopher Raia, deputy director of the FBI, said the operation had tackled “one of the most urgent public safety threats of our time”, which he described as the trafficking of fentanyl and other deadly drugs on the dark web. He said investigators had identified major dark web vendors and dismantled key parts of the networks that kept them operating.
In a press release, Europol said the operation had highlighted “the evolving resilience of dark web marketplaces”. It said these markets continue to adapt despite takedowns.
The police forces that took part included those of Australia, Britain, France, Germany and the US.
(information from amna.gr)
