Authorities Shut Down Darknet Market Archetyp

In a major international law enforcement operation dubbed “Operation Deep Sentinel,” authorities have successfully dismantled the notorious darknet marketplace “Archetyp Market,” one of the world’s largest and longest-running illegal trading platforms.

The takedown marks a significant victory in the ongoing fight against cybercrime and the illicit drug trade.

On June 11, 2025, a 30-year-old German national was apprehended by a special unit of the Spanish National Police at his residence in Barcelona.

The suspect is accused of operating Archetyp Market as its administrator, alongside several moderators.

This arrest followed a coordinated investigation led by the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s Office – Central Office for Combating Internet Crime (ZIT) – and the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA)

A Global Black Market Giant

Archetyp Market was accessible exclusively via the darknet and had earned a reputation as a major hub for illegal drug sales, including amphetamines, cannabis, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.

The platform’s estimated turnover reached a staggering €250 million. At the time of its closure, Archetyp Market boasted approximately 17,000 active listings, 612,000 customer accounts, and around 3,200 vendors.

Transactions were conducted solely in the privacy-focused cryptocurrency Monero, which is favored in criminal circles due to its emphasis on anonymity.

The operation extended beyond Spain, with simultaneous searches conducted at several locations in Germany—including Hannover, the Minden-Lübbecke district, and Hessen—as well as in Bucharest, Romania.

Authorities seized a trove of evidence: eight mobile phones, four computers, 34 data storage devices, and assets valued at roughly €7.8 million.

In the Netherlands, the National Police successfully secured and shut down the server infrastructure that powered Archetyp Market, effectively rendering the platform inoperable.

Further coordinated raids took place in Germany and Sweden, targeting moderators and vendors associated with the marketplace.

In total, 20 additional properties were searched, and seven individuals were arrested in Sweden. Across all suspects, law enforcement confiscated 47 smartphones, 45 computers and notebooks, various narcotics, and additional assets.

The extensive digital evidence collected is now under review, promising new leads and further investigative opportunities.

Operation Deep Sentinel stands as the latest in a series of high-profile successes for the BKA and its international partners in combating cybercrime, following recent takedowns of other darknet services and cybercriminal infrastructures.

Authorities emphasize that the closure of Archetyp Market sends a clear message to operators and users of illegal online marketplaces: law enforcement agencies are increasingly capable of penetrating even the most sophisticated criminal networks on the darknet.

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