The UK's National Crime Agency has made a number of arrests in the country as part of a Europe-wide strike against criminals using the Dark Web.
The arrests included significant vendors of illegal drugs as well as those connected to Silk Road 2.0.
The six people arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs were a 20-year-old man from Liverpool city centre, a 19-year-old man from New Waltham, Lincolnshire, a 30-year-old man from Cleethorpes, a 29-year-old man from Aberdovey, Wales, a 58-year-old man from Aberdovey, Wales, and a 58-year-old woman from Aberdovey, Wales.
All six were interviewed and have been bailed pending further enquiries.
The police agency also worked with a number of European law enforcement agencies as well as the FBI to close down 410 different services. In addition, Bitcoins worth approximately $1 million, as well as 180,000 euro in cash, drugs, gold and silver were also seized.
Operation Onymous, coordinated by Europol's European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), the FBI, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Eurojust, resulted in a total of 17 arrests.
Roy McComb, deputy director of the National Crime Agency, said the operation was ongoing and more arrests can be expected soon.
"Criminals like to think that the Dark Web provides a safe, anonymous haven but in reality this is just like any other organised crime network. It may take time and effort to investigate and build a criminal case, but we are determined to identify and prosecute people caught dealing drugs and committing serious crime using the Dark Web," he said.
As reported by IT Pro, Silk Road 2.0 founder Blake Benthall was arrested and charged with running the second incarnation of the drugs-selling online marketplace last week.
