Global police crackdown on dark web nets 350 arrests
- Operation TorNado led to 354 arrests worldwide after coordinated raids from May 2025 to October 2026.
- Major seizures: nearly 1 tonne of drugs in Europe, 4.8 tonnes in the US, 152 firearms, and €150 million in cash and crypto.
- Most arrests occurred in the United States (132) and Britain (59), with police from fourteen countries participating.
- Europol warned dark web marketplaces remain resilient and adapt quickly despite takedowns, the operation showed.
Police have arrested 354 people and seized large quantities of drugs, guns, and cash in a major global crackdown on users of the “dark web“, Europol said on Thursday.
The EU police body coordinated a worldwide sting, codenamed “Operation TorNado”, between May 2025 and October 2026 that resulted in hundreds of raids across the globe.
Most of the arrests came in Britain (59 arrests) and the United States (132 arrests).
In Europe, authorities seized nearly one tonne of illicit drugs, including amphetamines, ketamine, MDMA, cocaine and cannabis.
More than 4.8 tonnes of drugs were recovered in the United States, along with 152 firearms and 150 million euros ($166m) in cash and cryptocurrency.
“The operation highlighted the evolving resilience of dark web marketplaces, which continue to adapt despite takedowns,” Europol said in a statement.
Police forces in 14 countries were involved in the operation, including Australia, France, Germany, Britain and the United States.
