Police in several countries arrested 354 people and seized large amounts of drugs, weapons and cash in the framework of an international operation against the dark web, according to American and European leaders.
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13/11/2026
by
Lusa
A police from several countries arrested 354 people and seized large quantities of drugs, firearms and cash in the framework of a vast international operation aimed at users of the ‘dark web’, according to american and european leaders.
The ‘dark web’ is the hidden internet part, accessible only to special browsers, which offers the possibility of anonymity and privacy, but can also harbor illegal activities.
Europol, the European police agency, coordinated a global operation called “Operation Tornado” between May 2025 and October 2026, which led to hundreds of police actions worldwide.
Most arrests occurred in the United States (132), the United Kingdom (59), Hungary (45), Germany (41) and France (23).
In Europe, authorities seized almost a ton of illicit drugs, including amphetamines, ketamine, MDMA, cocaine and cannabis.
“ The operation highlighted the resilience of ‘dark web’ markets, which continue to adapt despite decommissioning,” Europol said in a statement.
In the United States, more than 4.8 tons of drugs were seized, as well as 152 firearms and 150 million euros in cash and cryptocurrencies.
“The TorNado operation faced one of the most urgent threats to public safety of our time: trafficking of fentanyl and other lethal drugs through the dark web,” said Christopher Raia, deputy director of the FBI.
“ We identified important vendors on the dark web,” he continued, clarifying that they dismantled “key elements of their infrastructure” that allowed them to operate.
Police forces from 14 countries participated in this operation, including Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.